New York Seeks to Prohibit Sharing Blueprints of 3D Guns Online in a sweeping move that civil liberties groups argue poses a serious threat to both the Second Amendment and the First. This week, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and state lawmakers introduced a revised bill that would make it a Class A misdemeanor to share 3D-printed firearm blueprints online. If passed, anyone found guilty of distributing such files could face up to one year in jail.
The bill, aimed at stemming the rise of homemade “ghost guns,” also includes language targeting auto sears—small devices that can convert a semi-automatic weapon into one capable of firing multiple rounds in rapid succession. The digital files used to 3D print such devices would likewise be banned under the proposed legislation.
Proponents of the measure, including Bragg, argue that the digital dissemination of gun blueprints poses a serious risk to public safety. In a statement released alongside the bill, Bragg said, “Driving down gun violence and addressing the proliferation of 3D-printed and ghost guns is an ongoing priority for my office that requires an aggressive and holistic approach. Auto sears are dangerous weapons that further exacerbate gun violence and need to be treated extremely seriously.”
Critics Say the Law Violates Free Speech and Gun Rights
But critics see this as yet another attempt by New York officials to undermine gun rights and now, even free speech. Organizations like the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) argue that the bill amounts to an unconstitutional form of prior restraint, targeting digital speech rather than unlawful behavior. “The sharing of code and digital files is protected under the First Amendment,” an FPC spokesperson stated. “Attempting to criminalize the distribution of information—whether it’s firearm blueprints or not—is a dangerous overreach.”
This is not the first time Bragg’s office has taken aim at the firearms community. In 2023, he supported legislation that would elevate the creation of 3D-printed guns and gun parts to a Class D felony, a charge that could carry significant prison time. The language from that previous bill appears again in this latest version, signaling the DA’s commitment to pushing forward with harsh penalties.
Critics say these moves ignore the reality that technology and firearms hobbies have evolved. Home gun building is legal under federal law, and millions of law-abiding Americans engage in the practice for sport, collection, or self-defense purposes. By attempting to ban the information that makes such activities possible, opponents argue, the government is criminalizing knowledge and suppressing constitutionally protected activity.
Digital Speech and DIY Gun Culture Under Fire
Adding fuel to the fire, Bragg has reportedly contacted major information-sharing platforms such as YouTube in efforts to remove videos and tutorials relating to home gun building, including those that explain how 3D printing technology can be used for firearms production. For gun rights advocates, this underscores a broader agenda: one not just of gun control, but of information control.
“This isn’t about public safety—it’s about silencing the firearms community,” said one New York-based 2A advocate. “The government doesn’t want people to know how to make their own firearms, even though it’s perfectly legal. So instead of banning the activity directly, they’re trying to cut off access to the knowledge.”
Legal experts are already speculating that, if passed, the bill will face immediate legal challenges. Courts have traditionally been wary of legislation that suppresses free expression—particularly in the realm of digital speech, where the lines between information and conduct are often blurred.
Still, New York officials appear determined to push forward, confident that public safety concerns will outweigh constitutional objections in the eyes of the legislature and courts. For now, the battle lines are drawn, and the future of digital gun rights—and digital free speech—hangs in the balance.
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