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Proposed Regulation Could Keep 3D-printed Gun Blueprints Offline For Good

Posted by Soulskill on from the at-least-from-people-who-obey-the-law dept.

SonicSpike sends a report on a proposed update to the International Traffic in Arms (ITAR) regulations which could shut down the sharing of files for 3D printed gun parts over the internet. "Hidden within the proposal, which restricts what gear, technology, and info can and cannot be exported out of the U.S., is a ban on posting schematics for 3D printed gun parts online." This follows a lawsuit from Cody Wilson and Defense Distributed back in May fighting the federal government's command to remove blueprints for the "Liberator" 3D-printed gun from their website. A senior official at the U.S. State Department said, "By putting up a digital file, that constitutes an export of the data. If it's an executable digital file, any foreign interests can get a hold of it."

6 of 423 comments (clear)

  1. Crappy precedent... by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If we start banning content because it could be a violation of INTERNATIONAL export...cue the Great US Firewall.

  2. Pointless, since we already have a work-around by Totenglocke · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They tried this with encryption methods and the result was to simply print it out and publish it as a book, then it became an irrefutable 1st Amendment issue. Idiot politicians never learn.

    --
    "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." ~Thomas Jefferson
  3. Yay, 'murica! by msobkow · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This will be extremely effective, because no other nation in the world could possibly come up with a 3D-printer blueprint for producing gun parts. :P

    --
    I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
  4. Re:Foreign interests? by fuzznutz · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You miss the big picture. 3D printed guns are in their infancy. The powers-that-be are scared shitless that 3D printed guns will EVENTUALLY be way better than your conventional home built firearms.

  5. How do you define a "gun part"? by Darth+Muffin · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If I put out plans for a screw or a pin, is that a gun part? A tube? A box? Spring?
    Would the trigger on plans for a garden sprayer be illegal?

    --
    Real programmers use "copy con program.exe"
  6. Re:Because...it's the LAW! by fustakrakich · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Yes, those companies own the internet. The government enforces their monopolies and filters your content. That is my point. They can and will control what you see and hear and say when they deem necessary. And every little thing goes through their wire, with a big ol' hard drive attached, harvesting every byte. And please save your breath on the VPN/Tor thing. They are 'placebos' at best.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”