Washington State Proposal Would Hit 3D Printer Manufacturers

There's something insane about the latest proposals to target 3D printers with state-level laws. New York has considered requiring background checks for printers, for example.

While Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg wants manufacturers of 3D printers to create their software so their products won't make guns or gun parts, he doesn't have the authority to make anything stick. He's trying to get voluntary compliance.

But it seems Washington state isn't worried about what manufacturers want to do. They're just going to tell them.

As 3D-printed firearms become a growing concern, Washington is the latest state to propose laws designed to curb the proliferation of such armaments. The new bill, seen for a first reading at the house level last week, would seek to prevent "the unlawful manufacturing of firearms by requiring three-dimensional printers be equipped with certain blocking technologies."

Bill HB 2321 would mean that after July 1, 2027, no 3D printer manufacturer or vendor would be allowed to sell a 3D printer in the state unless said device is equipped with "blocking features" that prevent the 3D printer from printing firearms and illegal firearm parts. According to the bill, these software controls would be required to "effectively" reject print requests for such parts with "a high degree of reliability" and also prevent users from bypassing any such tool. Per the definition laid out in the bill, the blocking features are described as "a firearms blueprint detection algorithm."

To comply with this new proposed legislation, 3D printer manufacturers could apply one of three possible solutions via software to ensure compliance: integration of a firearms blueprint detection algorithm in a 3D printer's firmware, integrated preprint software design that includes the algorithm, or handshake authentication design.

Violating the law would result in a sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to $15,000.

Of course, this is stupid.

First, I don't care where they put the algorithm; someone will figure out how to jailbreak the printers in no time flat. That's just the nature of technology. You've got people who will do it not because they have a thing for guns, but because they like the challenge of it. The fact that these people are often rather anti-authoritarian as well probably doesn't hurt.

Second, this is a state-level law. Someone can cross the border into Idaho and buy all of the printers they want without the algorithm. There's no law about transporting 3D printers into the state for your own use. Possession of a printer without the algorithm doesn't seem to be prohibited, either. It's just the sale of such devices that's prohibited.

In other words, there's literally nothing this bill will do except restrict the people who aren't a problem in the first place.

Just like every other gun control law on the entire planet.

And, it should be remembered that criminals had no problems getting guns before 3D printers became an option. There's no reason to believe laws like this will keep guns out of people's hands now, either.

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