3D Printed Guns = Jail Time?
A new bill in New York seeks to criminalize the sharing of 3D-printed gun blueprints, raising serious questions about both Second and First Amendment protections.
At a Glance
New York bill would make sharing 3D-printed gun part blueprints a class A misdemeanor
Law targets auto sears that convert semi-automatic guns to fully automatic
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg leads the initiative alongside state lawmakers
Critics say it threatens First Amendment rights by criminalizing digital speech
Part of New York’s wider Ghost Guns Initiative launched in 2020
The Bill That Bans Blueprints
State legislators in New York have introduced a bill that could make sharing computer-aided design (CAD) files for certain 3D-printed firearm parts a criminal offense. The proposal, designated S227A/A1777A, targets auto sears—components that can convert legal semi-automatic weapons into illegal fully automatic ones. Under this law, simply distributing these files online would become a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail.
The legislation is being spearheaded by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal. Bragg described the measure as a response to a rising “kitchen table pipeline” of homemade weapons—a modern twist on the long-debated “iron pipeline” of trafficked guns.
Free Speech Meets Gun Control
The bill doesn’t just raise gun policy questions—it ignites a fiery constitutional debate. Sharing digital files, including source code, is typically protected under the First Amendment. Legal analysts warn that by targeting the dissemination of CAD files, the bill could set a precedent for regulating other forms of digital expression.
According to 3DPrint.com, opponents argue that the state is attempting to suppress access to information rather than targeting the actual misuse of firearm components. “Our proposed legislation reflects a comprehensive fix,” Bragg claimed, “to hold people accountable who are using and developing illegal firearms.”
Ghost Guns and Legal Grey Areas
This move is part of New York’s ongoing Ghost Guns Initiative, launched in 2020, to crack down on homemade firearms that lack serial numbers and registration. A 2023 report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives showed auto sear seizures nationwide had jumped from 658 in 2019 to 5,816, fueling legislative urgency.
Supporters, including Gothamist, argue that current laws are inadequate against evolving tech. “New technology has created the possibility for anyone to manufacture rapid-fire devices,” said Hoylman-Sigal. Rosenthal added, “No one should be allowed to create an instrument of war with a 3D printer.”
From Code to Court?
Critics remain skeptical. Legal scholars and civil liberties advocates fear the bill opens the door to broader government control over digital speech. If passed, it could be challenged in court as an unconstitutional restriction on free expression.
Still in committee, the bill must pass both chambers of the New York State Legislature and secure the governor’s approval. Its fate could set a national precedent on how far states can go in regulating not just guns—but the very code that builds them.