3D Printing Crackdowns Are Expanding—and It’s Not Just About Guns Anymore

The war on 3D printers due to 3D printed "ghost guns" continues on the federal and state levels.

For years, gun control efforts have focused on firearms themselves. Now, they’re moving into something far bigger code, technology, and innovation. It’s starting to raise alarms well beyond the Second Amendment community.

From Firearms to Files

Lawmakers across the country are pushing new regulations targeting 3D printed firearms—often labeled as “ghost guns.” However, the latest proposals go much further than banning physical items. What we are now seeing is that they are targeting digital design files and the code that is used.

This is something that we have seen coming for some time. The shift from regulating guns to regulating information. The Second Amendment is supposed to be the bullwork against infringements on the other Bill of Rights. Once it is gone, no right will be sacred.

The New Front: Software and Hardware Control

Several of the proposals being pushed would require built-in monitoring software in 3D printers and blocking systems to prevent certain files from printing. This would bring “big brother” not only into your home, but directly into your device. These bills would also have mandatory reporting features tied to user activity.

This would turn your 3D printer into a governmental reporting device. Your device would spy on you for the government. This type of spying is some of the very types that Edward Snowden warned us about more than a decade ago.

Why Tech Communities Are Pushing Back

Groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) are now raising serious concerns. This argument is simple, these laws won’t stop criminals. They will massively limit innovation and heavily restrict legitimate uses of technology.

It also does not take much an imagination to think how this type of regulation could be abused by those in power. Today it is about guns, tomorrow it could be about several other things that those in charge deem “dangerous”. Or it could be used to shut down small businesses in favor of large corporations.

These types of restrictions will only further the government’s control on our rights. That’s why opposition is growing outside traditional gun rights circles.

This Impacts More Than Firearms

3D printing isn’t just used for guns. It’s used across industries for various needs. These industries include medical device development, Manufacturing, Automotive and aerospace parts. We also see it used in art and design fields. Since its invention, hobbyist and maker communities have used 3D printing in various ways to further their passions.

The First Amendment Problem

This is way more than just a Second Amendment issue. This comes down to a free speech issue. The good news is we are seeing courts have increasingly recognized that. In the modern world, code is a form of expression. When governments try to ban or restrict digital files, they are in fact limiting speech.

The constitution guarantees us freedom of sharing information. The Bill of Rights were designed to restrict the government from restricting the sharing of information. These laws violate that.  

What the Law Already Says

There is something often ignored in the debate over “ghost guns”, under current federal law individuals can legally manufacture firearms for personal use. There only restriction is if the individual is not prohibited persons and the firearm meets legal requirements.

The fact is, Illegal firearms are still illegal, regardless of how they’re made. These are not filling any gaps, they are completely redundant. All they are doing is stifle innovation and expanding control.

Several states like California, New Jersey, Delaware, and Washington already have laws targeting digital firearm files or 3D printing. We expect more states to attempt to follow suit. We have also seen attempts at the federal level to regulate 3D printers.

We will continue to see this pattern play out throughout the country. If these efforts succeed, the consequences will be felt far beyond firearms. We will see slowing innovation and restricting research. This is all in the name of controlling one specific outcome.

It was a matter of time that the debate over rights would expand past guns. This is about who controls information and who controls technology. This debate is about how far the government can go to regulate both. The push to regulate 3D printing is creating unlikely allies—from gun owners to software developers to engineers. This is because we all have a stake in the outcome.

Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical we strive to bring you the best experience in the firearms world.  As we continue to grow the media arm of 2 If By Sea, make sure you keep tuning in to our Youtube and Rumble channels and right here at “The Patriot’s Almanac” to stay informed on the latest happenings in the firearm world! But we are not lawyers, so this isn't legal guidance. We are proud to be Southern Minnesota source for all things 2A.

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