New York’s budget bill would require “blocking technology” on all 3D printers (blog.adafruit.com)

Article summary

New York's budget bill proposes requiring 'blocking technology' on all 3D printers to prevent the printing of firearms or firearm components. The bill would mandate the use of software or firmware that scans print files and refuses to print anything flagged as a potential firearm. Critics argue that this technology is unreliable and would not effectively prevent the creation of illegal firearms. The bill's provisions would also apply to CNC mills and other manufacturing equipment.

Main themes

• 3D printing regulation
• Firearm control
• Technological feasibility
• Legislative oversight
• Manufacturing equipment
• Gun control laws

What commenters say

• The proposed regulation is ineffective and unenforceable, as it is easy to obtain firearms through other means, such as purchasing them on the street or online.
• The technology required to detect and prevent the printing of firearms is not reliable and would result in false positives and negatives.
• The bill's provisions are overly broad and would unfairly impact legitimate users of 3D printing technology, such as educators and small manufacturers.
• The focus should be on preventing the illegal use of firearms, rather than restricting access to the technology used to create them.
• The regulation would be difficult to implement and enforce, particularly with regards to offline machines and open-source firmware.
• The proposal is an example of misguided legislation that fails to address the root causes of gun violence and instead targets a specific technology.
• The use of 3D printing to create firearms is not a significant concern, as most criminals can obtain firearms through other means, and the majority of 3D printed guns are not functional or reliable.
• The bill's provisions would have unintended consequences, such as driving the development of 3D printing technology underground and making it more difficult to track and regulate.