I've recently covered multiple state and federal bills targeting 3D printed firearms. While each proposal is different, they share a common theme: shifting from regulating criminal behavior to regulating software and machines.
Colorado, New York, Washington, and California are all cracking down on 3D printed “ghost guns” by expanding current firearms laws to regulate digital files and potentially ban 3D printers that are not under its surveillance.
Legislators are pursing a noble cause to prevent gun violence, but each of these four bills aren't aimed at the criminals, but the tools they use. I fear that this over reach will lead to printer manufacturers locking their users into a cozy looking walled garden they can't escape, with the software, filament and perhaps even the files they use restricted to only those approved by the state. Older machines that are not online for this surveillance, under these restrictions, could become illegal.
Stop the Ban
The community is tracking these bills here at Stop the Ban. This site has explanations of each bill, plus information on how to contact your state reps and what to say when you call or email them.
From my reporting at 3DPrint.com, I covered Joel Telling's (the 3D Printing Nerd) attempt to get local goverment officials to drop by his print farm an learn what 3D Prints can (and can't) do.
He is one of numerous makers taking to YouTube to raise the alarm about Washington State House Bills 2320 and 2321. The bills are intended to curb the illegal 3D printing of “ghost guns” and untraceable firearms, but may very well destroy the hobby of 3D printing, hamper the additive manufacturing industry, and make criminals of anyone holding digital files of firearm-related models.
On Tom's Hardware I dug into the Colorado bill, which could make printers that are not online for surveillance illegal. However, of the data cited by the bill's supporters is very thin.
The Democrats’ statement cited data archived by the National Library of Medicine, which noted the “ATF received approximately 45,240 reports of suspected privately made firearms recovered by law enforcement” between 2016 and 2021. Only 186 cases involved 3D printing, of which 14 were fully printed firearms like the Liberator. This specific data set was compiled by researchers who scoured public records, including news reports, social media, and forums like Reddit.
I've been following the attempts to ban 3D printed guns for sometime. In 2023, I even tried to print a Harlot, with is a one shot pistol that requires a few metal parts. I didn't feel like losing any fingers, so I did not attempt to fire it.
And FYI, as a resident of the rather Red state of Missouri, 3D printing a firearm for my own personal use is quite legal.
