WHAT JUST HAPPENED? California lawmakers have advanced one of the most aggressive attempts yet to regulate 3D printers in response to the rise of untraceable, 3D-printed firearms. Assembly Bill 2047, the California Firearm Printing Prevention Act, passed the state Assembly by 58 votes to 19 and has moved to the Senate.
The bill would require consumer 3D printers sold in California to include "firearm blocking technology" that checks design files before a print job can begin.
Under the proposal, printers would have to evaluate STL files, CAD files, or other geometric code using a firearm blueprint detection algorithm and block files flagged as capable of producing a firearm or illegal firearm parts, including conversion devices.
California's Department of Justice, or another relevant state agency, would have until January 1, 2028, to publish performance standards for detection algorithms and software control processes.
Manufacturers would then have to submit self-attestations for every make and model they plan to sell in the state by July 1, 2028. A public list of compliant and non-compliant models would be published by September 1, 2028, and sales of non-compliant printers would be banned from March 1, 2029.
