The country is filled with regular guns, legal and illegal, this seems like a really pointless avenue of restriction.

It's also already illegal to manufacture weapons without the required licenses, so if someone is okay breaking that law, they would probably be okay making their own 3D printer or CNC machine from the commodity parts they are made from.

What next, ban aluminium profile and stepper motors? Let's not forget hex head screws! I hear CNC machines have a lot of wiring, maybe they will ban the element copper.

All that to say, this would be both ineffective at changing the problem and extremely frustrating to law abiding citizens. Stifling innovation is one thing, squashing small businesses regular operations would be another outcome. CNC machines have been around for decades, powering small industries that have pumping out bespoke parts for years.

Industry exploits politicians to warp industry in their favor. Politicians exploit industry's willingness to fund campaigns, or PR around the politician and the issue.

There are no organic overreactions or misunderstandings by anyone. Although the politicians are fine if you "see through" them and conclude that, since that would be much less cynical than the reality.

Everyone involved knows this isn't doing any good. Studiously appearing to not know or not care, regarding their own legislation, demonstrates they know.

Let's ban kitchen knives next.

While "The Liberator" (one of the first 3d printed guns) was interesting as a test of the technology and what it means for the law, I don't know if I'd trust using one to not blow up in my hands. Pretty sure you could assemble a zip gun in a Home Depot (they even sell cartridges for powder-actuated tools) that's less dangerous for you, more dangerous downrange.

It is a total mystery how the Washington bill's cited "blocking technology" is supposed to work. If you load a pipe-shaped object into your CAM software, how the hell is it supposed to know if it's an illegal firearm part or just a manifold? Maybe before each time it generates some G-code, you need to submit a signed affidavit to the government, and they'll conduct an investigation. Three months later you can print your fidget spinner.

I think the designs have advanced a lot since the first but what hasn't changed is that printed guns are mostly for hobbyists while criminals mostly use normal guns.

It's about controls. Being self sufficient is the greatest threat to a authoritarian government, which mirrors the states attempting to pass such legislation.

This is one of the most concerning attacks on personal freedom I've seen recently and that's really saying something since we live in a rapidly evolving oppressive Orwellian dystopia.

Yep all these states are pushing copies of the same legislation, seeking to ban printers. Allegedly for gun control reasons, but that doesn’t make sense since it is very rare for crimes to be committed using 3d printed guns. Even if they were, the second amendment protects the right to bear arms unconditionally.

The perceived problem may have more to do with the mass production of arms, rather than lone incidents.

But that same problem has existed since the 60s when machine tools became common and cheap enough for people to put in their garages. Table top CNC machines existed in the 90s and that wasn't some looming threat.

To me this is all fearmongering to try and restrict people from making their own stuff instead of buying it all or fixing old stuff.

That one guy just needed some plumbing pipe to get Shinzo Abe.

This is an overreaction by some, and a chance to exploit by others.