It’s already illegal under New York law to possess or build an unregistered firearm, but one lawmaker in Albany wants to take things a step further by essentially treating 3D printers as if they’re firearms. 

New York state senator Jenifer Rajkumar is the author of the bill that is drawing the ire of Second Amendment supporters and 3D printer hobbyists. 

As Fast Company first reported on January 24, the proposal would require FBI-reviewed fingerprinting and criminal background checks for anyone seeking to purchase a 3D printer “capable of printing a firearm, or any component of a firearm.” The wording is particularly important here, since it greatly widens the law’s scope to include many of the cheaper, more accessible printers. Manufacturing an entirely 3D-printed gun still requires specialized equipment, but even the most common printers now available in public libraries and schools can create most parts. The materials and machines are so widespread that many serialized and regulated firearms already utilize printers to mass produce plastic gun frames.

Bill A2228 would allow up to 15 days for New York’s Division of Criminal Justices to review an applicant’s information. Anyone previously convicted of a felony or “serious offense,” or subject to an outstanding warrant, would then be flagged and prohibited from purchasing the 3D printer.

This is utterly insane, especially considering what happens in New York when someone is caught making a 3D printed gun… at least if they’re a juvenile. A 16-year-old in Syracuse, New York was recently arrested and charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm, and a 14-year-old who allegedly obtained a 3D-printed gun from the older teen is facing charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, and first-degree reckless endangerment after he allegedly fired shots that hit a house and a vehicle. Both teens, however were released to guardians and told to show up for a hearing in Family Court at some point in the future. 

Once again, instead of dealing with the human beings who are breaking the law (and aiding and abetting violent crime), Democrats are wholly invested in the idea of banning their way to safety. Never mind that 3D printers have a host of applications outside of building guns, much less that we have a long national tradition of privately manufactured firearms in this country. Rajkumar and her cosponsors want to treat virtually every 3D printer as a dangerous device subject to background checks and waiting periods. How long before registration of 3D printers would be required as well? 

There’s always a possibility that A2228 won’t find much traction in Albany this year, but New York has adopted so many screwy anti-gun laws over the past few years that it wouldn’t come a shock or surprise to see this bill get to Kathy Hochul’s desk in the coming months. The good news is that gun owners won’t be the only ones speaking out against her proposal. We know that the Democrat majority doesn’t really care what we think, but if the opposition is more widespread then we might still be able to prevent this bad idea from becoming a terrible law.