Tom's Hardware discusses a proposed New York State Assembly Bill A02228, which seeks to implement background checks for individuals purchasing 3D printers capable of printing firearms or their components.

Bill Details: Sponsored by State Senator Jennifer Rajkumar, the bill stipulates that retailers must request and receive criminal history information from potential buyers, giving New York State 15 days to conduct these background checks.

Purpose: The primary aim is to combat the rise of 3D-printed guns, often referred to as "ghost guns" due to their untraceable nature. This legislation was spurred by incidents like the alleged use of a 3D-printed gun in the assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson by Luigi Mangione.

Legislative History: This isn't the first attempt to regulate 3D printers in relation to firearms. Similar proposals by Senator Rajkumar in 2023 did not progress beyond the committee stage, reflecting ongoing concerns about 3D-printed firearms.

Public Reaction: The bill has met with pushback, primarily from 3D printing enthusiasts and some civil libertarians who argue that such measures could be an overreach, infringing on personal freedoms and not effectively curbing gun violence since there are other, simpler ways to obtain firearms.

Effectiveness and Criticism: Critics, including some commenters on the bill's public forum, question the effectiveness of this law in preventing gun proliferation, pointing out that 3D printers can still be used for a multitude of legal and beneficial purposes. There's also concern about deterring hobbyists and educators who use 3D printers for non-weapon-related projects.

Dig In New York proposes background checks for 3D printer purchases — the bill combats 3D-printed guns

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New York 3D Printer Background Checks

New York State is proposing a bill that would require background checks for anyone purchasing a 3D printer capable of printing firearms or their parts. The bill, introduced by Senator Jenifer Rajkumar, aims to prevent three-dimensional printed firearms from getting into the wrong hands

The proposed legislation would treat the purchase of a 3D printer like buying a gun, requiring retailers to request criminal history information from the state's division of criminal justice services. The commissioner would have up to 15 days to review the purchaser's criminal history and decide if they can buy the printer

The bill is part of a broader effort to combat ghost guns, which are unregistered and untraceable firearms that individuals can purchase or assemble on their own without a background check. Ghost guns have become a growing concern, with a significant increase in their seizures by law enforcement agencies in recent years

Supporters of the bill argue that it closes a legal loophole that allows convicted felons to bypass traditional firearm purchasing regulations by simply 3D printing individual components to create an untraceable ghost gun

However, the proposal has faced opposition from hobbyists and some in the 3D printing community who argue that the measure would not effectively prevent ghost gun manufacturing and could have a chilling effect on legitimate uses of 3D printers, such as education and innovation

The bill is currently open for public comment on the New York State Legislature website and is still in committee, indicating that it may not advance beyond this stage

The proposed law is part of a larger trend of increased regulation aimed at curbing the spread of ghost guns, which have become a significant concern for law enforcement agencies across the country