Well, folks, California did it again. Governor Gavin Newsom just signed AB 2047, the California Firearm Printing Prevention Act, and while I've got some mixed feelings about it, let me break it down for you.
First, the concerning part: California is now the second state (after New York) to require 3D printers to have so-called "firearm blocking technology" before they can be sold. This is that creepy idea that your printer should be smart enough to refuse to print gun parts. And unlike New York, California didn't even exempt industrial machines - they're going after every 3D printer sold in the state.
But here's where it gets interesting. The original version of this bill had criminal penalties, fines, and a hard deadline. The version that actually got signed? Much softer. No criminal penalties. No fines. No manufacturer attestation. No compliance list. Nothing kicks in until ASTM International actually publishes a standard for this blocking technology - and if that doesn't happen by July 1, 2029, this whole mess might never activate at all.
So for now, if you're in California or thinking about buying a 3D printer anywhere in the country, you're in the clear. Your printer will still be able to do whatever you want it to do.
That said, don't get comfortable. If ASTM does publish a standard before that 2029 deadline, we're looking at two of the largest states in the country requiring this nonsense. That means manufacturers might just build it into everything they sell, even in gun-friendly states. It's a slippery slope, and you know the antis would love nothing more than to make ghost guns impossible to manufacture at home.
The courts are already starting to strike down these ridiculous ghost gun bans anyway. A federal judge recently nixed Delaware's ban on possessing ghost guns and home manufacturing. The anti-gunners are losing in court, but they're always looking for new ways to chip away at our rights.
The bottom line? Enjoy your 3D printers while they've still got the freedom to print what they want. And keep an eye on what happens with ASTM - that's the battle we need to watch.