New York state is proposing legislation aimed at curbing unauthorized 3D printing of firearms. The bill places significant responsibility on 3D printer manufacturers and criminalizes sharing 3D files related to guns and their components. However, open-source hardware company Adafruit has voiced strong concerns about the wide-ranging implications of the law.
Adafruit’s Opposition to the Bill
Adafruit argues the bill’s reach is excessively broad, extending beyond firearms to impact makers everywhere. Their blog points out the bill includes regulations on open-source firmware, offline 3D printing machines, file formats not readable by detection algorithms, and even CNC mills which serve numerous industries.
They emphasize that the law mandates surveillance embedded in every “maker tool” sold in the state, holding sellers liable for how the tools are used post-sale, a level of control they deem impractical and unfair. As Adafruit puts it, “We don’t require table saws to scan wood for weapon shapes. We don’t require lathes to phone home before turning metal. We prosecute people who make illegal things, not people who own tools.”
Technical and Practical Concerns
The bill calls for a technical working group to assess the feasibility of enforcement mechanisms involving tool surveillance. Adafruit warns this group might be composed of non-experts who could simply approve legislators’ wishes without rigorous scrutiny.
They also highlight the difficulty in detecting firearm parts purely by shape, given that many common shapes like pipes, brackets, and gears are used both in firearms and countless other applications. This overlap risks high rates of false positives and false negatives, which could unfairly burden makers and educators.
Proposed Amendments by Adafruit
To align public safety goals with the needs of the maker community, Adafruit suggests:
- Narrowing regulation focus to the intent behind tool use, not the tool itself.
- Eliminating mandatory file scanning.
- Exempting open-source and offline toolchains from the legislation.
- Limiting liability for sellers and educators who provide maker tools.
- Adding clear safeguards and expert requirements for the working group.
- Mandating peer-reviewed, evidence-based feasibility assessments before enactment.
Response from Authorities
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has acknowledged that while the law may not solve the problem of ghost guns completely, it could make them harder to obtain. Nonetheless, Adafruit’s technical concerns suggest the bill as drafted might inadvertently create hurdles for legitimate makers without effectively targeting illegal gun production.
Conclusion
The New York legislation targeting 3D printed firearms has sparked debate balancing public safety with technological innovation and maker freedoms. Adafruit’s pushback highlights the complexity of regulating emerging tech and the need for carefully tailored laws that do not stifle legitimate creative and educational uses of 3D printing and related tools.
