Washington State recently introduced House bills HB 2320 and HB 2321 that aim to restrict the use of 3D printing technology in order to prevent the illegal manufacturing of firearms. While the stated goal of improving public safety is understandable, I feel that these bills are misdirected at the maker community and are a setup for a whole series of unintended consequences. Instead of offering a thoughtful solution, the proposals rely on simplistic and heavy-handed restrictions that may be difficult to implement, costly and impractical to enforce, and largely ineffective at stopping illegal activity.
HB 2320 is entitled “Concerning the regulation of firearm manufacturing” and focuses on expanding regulations around firearm manufacturing, particularly when digital tools like 3D printers, CNC machines, and downloadable design files are used. The bill broadens existing definitions of firearm manufacturing to explicitly include digital methods and makes it illegal to create certain gun parts or firearms without proper licensing. In practice, this would criminalize a wide range of hobbyist activities, even when no harmful intent exists. Many makers use 3D printers for educational projects, prototyping, and mechanical experimentation, and the bill risks sweeping these legitimate uses into a legal gray area. The concern is that well-meaning individuals could face legal consequences simply for owning tools or files that resemble firearm components. Taking a closer look at section 8 on page 31, the proposed new law under HB 2320 would state, among other things:
To my knowledge, there does not exist a 3D printer manufacturer that has the “primary or intended function” of manufacturing firearms. 3D printers can be instructed to make many things, of which firearms are a very small subset. To use an analogy, it would be similar to assuming that car manufacturers make cars that have the primary or intended function of taking you to the gun store, so maybe we should ban cars. This bill represents a gross misunderstanding of 3D printing technology.
HB 2321 is entitled “Requiring three-dimensional printers be equipped with certain blocking technologies” and goes even further by requiring that all 3D printers sold or transferred in Washington be equipped with software that can detect and block the printing of firearm parts as described in section 8 on page 6:
The bill would require manufacturers to implement “firearm blueprint detection algorithms” and prevent printers from producing restricted designs. While this may sound straightforward, the reality is far more complicated. 3D printer files can be easily modified, disguised, or broken into smaller pieces, making detection unreliable. In addition, many 3D printers operate offline or use open-source software, making enforcement nearly impossible, unless all “compliant” 3D printers are forced to use a restricted set of software and firmware which would essentially stifle innovation and progress with 3D printing.
As discussed in this Reddit post from the Seattle community, these rules could also harm small businesses, educators, researchers, and hobbyists who rely on open and flexible printer systems for innovation.
The enforcement challenges of both bills are significant. Policing digital files and machine firmware requires advanced technical oversight that state agencies may not be equipped to handle. Manufacturers would face higher production costs, which would likely be passed on to consumers. Meanwhile, individuals intent on producing illegal firearms could simply bypass these systems by modifying firmware, using older printers, or obtaining equipment from outside the state. This means that law-abiding users would bear the burden of regulation, while bad actors could easily evade it and undermine the effectiveness of the legislation.
Ultimately, these bills reflect a misunderstanding of the 3D printing community and the technology itself. I honestly don’t know how to curb illegal firearm manufacturing or how to address the epidemic of gun violence in the United States, but I highly doubt that HB 2320 and HB 2321 would curb the actions of bad actors or help improve public safety. Instead, they will create unnecessary barriers to innovation and ruin the careers and hobbies of peaceful members of the maker community.
