NRA-ILA | Washington: 3D Printing Removed from Appropriations Committee to Fast Track Legislation

Just hours after our last alert on House Bill 2320, the legislature removed the bill from consideration by the Appropriations committee and has moved it to Rules 2, where it can be brought for a vote on the House floor at any time. The Appropriations committee is a critical step for bills that pose a significant fiscal impact and allows the public an opportunity for additional input. This move can be seen as nothing more than the legislature’s desire to steamroll more gun control through the process without truly vetting all aspects of the bill. Unfortunately, this is all too common in states with anti-gun legislative majorities such as Washington. The current fiscal note for the bill appears to ignore actual implementation and enforcement, seeming to account for little more than the paperwork demands.  

HB 2320 could be eligible for a floor vote at any time and it’s imperative to contact your lawmaker and urge their opposition to this legislation!

House Bill 2320 attempts to prohibit the private use of 3-D printers and milling machines for manufacturing firearms and firearms parts that are already illegal or restricted under state law. This bill also prohibits the possession of digital instruction files and/or code related to firearm components by private individuals, raising First, Second and Fifth Amendment violation implications. 

The title of this bill is misleading the public. This bill isn’t just about use of 3D machines and digital codes to manufacture firearms, it contains a catch-all stating that the manufacture/assembly of any of the regulated items by “other means” is also prohibited. This bill sets forth a dangerous precedent for enforcement and policing of the internet by state officials and raises concerns regarding an individual’s protection from self-incrimination. 

Please stay tuned to the NRA-ILA website and your inbox as this legislative session continues.