California's New Bill Requires DOJ-Approved 3D Printers That Report on Themselves

Source: Slashdot

Overview

California’s recently proposed AB‑2047 would require every 3D printer sold in the state to be a Department of Justice‑approved model equipped with “firearm blocking technology.” Non‑certified machines would be banned after 2029, and attempts to bypass the software would be criminalized.

Legislative Details

• Bill name: California Firearm Printing Prevention Act (AB‑2047)
• Introduced by: Assembly Member Bauer‑Kahan on February 17.
• Key requirements:
  • Sale or transfer of a 3D printer is prohibited unless the make and model appears on a state‑maintained roster of approved devices.
  • Approval must be certified by the DOJ as having “firearm blocking technology.”
  • Manufacturers must submit attestations for every make and model; the DOJ publishes the approved list.
  • If a printer is not on the list by March 1, 2029, it cannot be sold in California.
  • Knowingly disabling or circumventing the blocking software is a misdemeanor, with civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation.

The bill adds a “certification bureaucracy” that includes state‑approved algorithms, software control processes, printer models, quarterly list updates, and enforcement mechanisms.

Criticisms and Reactions

• Technical feasibility: Michael Weinberg notes that accurately identifying gun parts from geometry alone is extremely difficult, desktop printers lack the processing power for such analysis, and open‑source firmware makes any blocking requirement easy to bypass.
• Policy concerns: The Firearms Policy Coalition highlighted the bill on X, emphasizing the challenges of regulating general‑purpose machines.
• Industry response:
  • Jon Lareau called the proposal “stupidity on steroids,” pointing out that a simple spring‑shaped part cannot reveal its intended use.
  • The Foundry stated, “Regulating general‑purpose machines is another. AB‑2047 would require 3D printers to run state‑approved surveillance software and criminalize modifying your own hardware.”

References

• DOJ‑approved models equipped with “firearm blocking technology” (Adafruit blog)
• Washington State proposal for firearm‑blueprint detection algorithms (Slashdot)
• New York legislation targeting “ghost guns” (Slashdot)
• AB‑2047 bill text (California Legislative Information)
• Michael Weinberg’s analysis of 3D‑printer gun screening
• Firearms Policy Coalition tweet on AB‑2047