Why are multiple US states suddenly pursuing technically impossible 3D printer regulations?
There are multiple states now in various stages of developing and deploying legislation to regulate 3D printers in an attempt to curb printing of weapons. Some have passed legislation (e.g. NY State), while others are still pondering them (e.g. California).
While some laws merely make it illegal to produce weapons using the devices, others go much further by demanding technical blocks on the printers themselves. These blocks would magically inspect each and every print job and stop those determined to be weapons. I’ve written about this many times in the past, and it is basically impossible to do this — while specific geometries could be detected, there are countless ways to go around the detection that perps would inevitably use.
The proposed laws generate a lot of activity in the 3D print space, as operators, companies, and various knowledgeable folks have to lobby the relevant government representatives to ensure the legislation is realistic.
Why is this happening all of a sudden? It turns out there is a reason.
In the US, there is considerable interest in doing something about gun violence, which, at least from outside the US, seems quite out of control.
The major force behind the legislation appears to be an organization known as “Everytown”. This is a non-profit company that wants to stop gun violence. They say:
“Gun violence touches every town in America. For too long, life-saving laws have been thwarted by the gun lobby and by leaders who refuse to take common-sense steps that will save lives. But something is changing. More than 11 million mayors, moms, teachers, survivors, gun owners, students, and everyday Americans have come together to make their own communities safer. Everytown starts with you, and it starts in your neighbourhood. By introducing evidence-based solutions in every town, we can end gun violence.”
Everytown published its major report “Printing Violence” on July 17, 2025. It explicitly stated that 3D printer manufacturers and software companies should implement algorithms that detect and block firearm files, and that legislators should regulate 3D printing technology so that printers cannot be used to print guns. The report specifically described detection in slicer software, cloud print-management software, and printer firmware.
So that’s one place where the specific idea comes from, although the general concept had been floating around earlier.
But how is this message being carried into so many places? It seems that Everytown is incredibly well funded. There are two entities involved, the “Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund”, which spent US$57M in 2024, and the “Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund”, which spent another US$44M in 2024. This is approximately a US$100M annual operation.
They spend a large portion of this money on public education, research, and advocacy — that last item is very likely what’s funding significant lobbying that is taking place in all the involved US states.
It’s not surprising that this organization attracts considerable donations, since the topic is of extreme interest by many who really do want some measure of gun controls to stop or slow gun violence. However, whoever is in charge of Everytown is clearly mis-spending their cash on a wild goose chase looking for technical controls on 3D printers that won’t actually do the job.
And in the process, they may cause considerable harm to the 3D printing industry.
Via Everytown and 3D Printing is not a Crime
