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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."

8 of 423 comments (clear)

  1. Because...it's the LAW! by sycodon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    All Constitutional issues aside (Free Speech, Prior Restraint, etc.) They can't keep details of their spying program out of the news. They expect to prevent people from exchanging these documents?

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    1. Re:Because...it's the LAW! by kheldan · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Exactly. Remember USENET? Used to be that if you wanted something to never be forgotten, all you had to do was upload it to USENET, and you were more or less assured that it would be impossible to erradicate it completely. So it goes with this: the digital genie is already out of the bottle. If there are 3D printed gun files on the Internet at any point in time, it's now impossible to supress it, as impossible as trying to prevent filesharing of any other kind is. You can make all the laws you want, threaten people all you want, but just like Mr. Universe said: "You can't stop the signal, Mal.". Also just like non-3D printed guns, if you outlaw 3D printed guns, then only outlaws will have 3D printed guns. Stop wasting taxpayer money.

      --
      Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
    2. Re: Because...it's the LAW! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They know who they're working for: the One Percenters.

  2. It stopped piracy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Making it illegal to transmit data put an immediate end to software piracy. I don't see why it can't work here as well.

    1. Re:It stopped piracy by bobbied · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Making it illegal to transmit data put an immediate end to software piracy. I don't see why it can't work here as well.

      Hey, while we are at it, let's outlaw murder and rape too... Oh wait... What is already illegal?

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  3. F14 is largely declassified by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The goal, of course, is not to prevent this stuff from getting out -- people will sneak it out trivially and host it outside the US. And state-level agency, or large terrorist organizations, could just send legal (on the surface anyway) visitors to pick it up, if they wanted to, which they don't.

    The goal is to intimidate the makers of such designs. Arrest first and ask questions later, when such designs get out. I wonder how they will take that intimidation?

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    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  4. 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.

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    "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." ~Thomas Jefferson
  5. Foreign interests? by Nidi62 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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."

    Right. Because in countries where you can trade a goat for a fully automatic AK-47 or even an RPK, people are instead going to download and print a flimsy, crappy piece of plastic that can shoot maybe 10 rounds before blowing your hand off. And in any case, they make much better weapons in caves than what this guy is making.

    --
    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil