Cody Wilson of Defense Distributed in Austin is at the center of a firestorm right now.
The University of Central Arkansas graduate posted plans online that showed how to make a functioning firearm using 3-D printer technology.
And that has led to an outcry from government and law enforcement officials, who say such guns could easily wind up in the hands of criminals and even terrorist. Being made mostly of plastic, they would be difficult to detect with current security measures. And since they have no serial numbers they are essentially untraceable.
The plans have been download thousands of times-though the gun itself is crude and dangerous to use-and Wilson is embroiled in court battles as state governments move to force their removal from the Internet.
His supporters say this is a First and Second Amendment issue and that law-abiding citizens should be able to download the plans and make their own guns. Plus, they note, the plans are already out there and there is little any authority can do about it at this late stage.
Foes say it's a public safety and national security issue and that if Wilson prevails in court it will open the door for others to make other, better-working gun plans available.
We want to know what you think. Do you support those who make 3-D gun plans available to the public? Or do you think the government has the right and the obligation to stop them?
Send your response (50 words maximum) to [email protected] by Wednesday, Aug. 22. You can also mail your response to the Texarkana Gazette Friday Poll, at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504 or drop it off at our office, 101 E. Broad St., Texarkana, Ark. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. We will print as many responses as we can in next Friday's paper.