Cali AG Files Lawsuit Against Companies Providing Access To 3D-Printed Gun Code

February 18, 2026
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California's Attorney General Rob Bonta just dropped a legal bombshell, suing companies like Defense Distributed and others for daring to host 3D-printed gun files online—claiming they're aiding an unlawful firearm manufacturing scheme. This isn't just another gun grab; it's a direct assault on digital free speech, wrapped in the guise of public safety. Bonta's office argues that sharing these CAD files violates state laws banning undetectable firearms and assault weapons, even though federal courts have repeatedly affirmed that code is protected speech under the First Amendment. Remember the 2018 Defense Distributed saga? The State Department tried to censor those files as exports, only to settle and pay millions after losing in court. California's move reeks of defiance, testing whether AGs can unilaterally criminalize information in the internet age. For the 2A community, this lawsuit is a flashing red warning light. If Bonta wins, expect a domino effect: states like New York and Illinois piling on, forcing platforms to scrub gun files or face crippling liability, effectively resurrecting the pre-2018 censorship era. It's not about ghost guns anymore—these printers are churning out legal AR-15 lowers and standard pistols that comply with federal rules. The real play here is control: disarm law-abiding makers by choking off knowledge, while criminals ignore laws and buy untraceable hardware on the black market. This echoes historical precedents like the printing press bans on seditious pamphlets—today's equivalent is STL files empowering decentralized manufacturing. The implications scream urgency for 2A advocates. Push back hard with amicus briefs, support groups like FOSSCAD archiving files on decentralized networks (think IPFS), and vote out activist AGs. This fight isn't just about printers; it's the frontline in preserving the right to tinker, innovate, and defend without Big Brother's permission slip. If we lose here, the Second Amendment becomes a museum piece—watch, learn, and arm up legally while you can.

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California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta just dropped a legal bombshell, suing companies like Defense Distributed and others for daring to host 3D-printed gun files online—claiming they’re aiding an unlawful firearm manufacturing scheme. This isn’t just another gun grab; it’s a direct assault on digital free speech, wrapped in the guise of public safety. Bonta’s office argues that sharing these CAD files violates state laws banning undetectable firearms and assault weapons, even though federal courts have repeatedly affirmed that code is protected speech under the First Amendment. Remember the 2018 Defense Distributed saga? The State Department tried to censor those files as exports, only to settle and pay millions after losing in court. California’s move reeks of defiance, testing whether AGs can unilaterally criminalize information in the internet age.

For the 2A community, this lawsuit is a flashing red warning light. If Bonta wins, expect a domino effect: states like New York and Illinois piling on, forcing platforms to scrub gun files or face crippling liability, effectively resurrecting the pre-2018 censorship era. It’s not about ghost guns anymore—these printers are churning out legal AR-15 lowers and standard pistols that comply with federal rules. The real play here is control: disarm law-abiding makers by choking off knowledge, while criminals ignore laws and buy untraceable hardware on the black market. This echoes historical precedents like the printing press bans on seditious pamphlets—today’s equivalent is STL files empowering decentralized manufacturing.

The implications scream urgency for 2A advocates. Push back hard with amicus briefs, support groups like FOSSCAD archiving files on decentralized networks (think IPFS), and vote out activist AGs. This fight isn’t just about printers; it’s the frontline in preserving the right to tinker, innovate, and defend without Big Brother’s permission slip. If we lose here, the Second Amendment becomes a museum piece—watch, learn, and arm up legally while you can.

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