Washington Legislators Bypass Normal Process to Rush 3D Printing Restrictions

February 9, 2026
8:00 am

▶

Listen to Article

Washington lawmakers just pulled off a legislative sleight-of-hand that's got the 2A community on high alert: they rammed through HB 2320, a bill targeting 3D-printed firearms, by bypassing the standard committee process and sneaking it into the state budget as a policy ride. This isn't your garden-variety gun control push—it's a calculated end-run around public scrutiny, fast-tracking restrictions on sharing or downloading digital firearm files and even common 3D printing tools. Proponents claim it's about curbing ghost guns, but critics, including the Second Amendment Foundation, are sounding the alarm that it criminalizes innocent hobbyists, makers, and innovators who rely on open-source designs for everything from custom parts to educational projects. In a state already hostile to firearms rights, this move reeks of the same overreach seen in California's microstamping mandates or New York's assault weapon bans—vague language that starts with files but could ensnare anyone with a printer and a USB drive. Dig deeper, and the implications for gun owners are chilling. By embedding gun control in the budget, Democrats ensured it couldn't be easily stripped out without tanking funding for schools and roads—a classic poison pill tactic that's become a blueprint for blue-state legislatures. This doesn't just threaten the burgeoning home manufacturing revolution enabled by affordable printers like the Prusa or Ender series; it sets a precedent for federal copycats, especially as ATF rules on 80% lowers already squeeze DIY builders. Imagine a world where sharing a Glock frame STL file lands you in hot water, while criminals ignore laws and print anyway via dark web proxies. For the 2A crowd, it's a wake-up call: 3D printing isn't a loophole; it's the future of decentralized self-defense, democratizing production much like the AR-15 did for rifles. Washington's stunt underscores why vigilance on tech bans is non-negotiable—support groups like the Firearms Policy Coalition are already mobilizing lawsuits, but grassroots pressure on veto-proof majorities is key. The silver lining? This overplay could backfire spectacularly. Public backlash is brewing, with memes and videos flooding X (formerly Twitter) exposing the bill's absurdity—why ban files when hardware stores sell the same plastics? It galvanizes normies who see Big Brother eyeing their garage tinkering, potentially flipping suburban voters toward pro-2A candidates in '26 midterms. Stay frosty, patriots: download those files now (legally, of course), back the legal fights, and keep pushing for nullification at the state level. If Washington falls, expect copycats in Oregon and blue New England— but a united front can print our way to victory.

Best FFL Software Ranked and Compared!

Washington lawmakers just pulled off a legislative sleight-of-hand that’s got the 2A community on high alert: they rammed through HB 2320, a bill targeting 3D-printed firearms, by bypassing the standard committee process and sneaking it into the state budget as a policy ride. This isn’t your garden-variety gun control push—it’s a calculated end-run around public scrutiny, fast-tracking restrictions on sharing or downloading digital firearm files and even common 3D printing tools. Proponents claim it’s about curbing ghost guns, but critics, including the Second Amendment Foundation, are sounding the alarm that it criminalizes innocent hobbyists, makers, and innovators who rely on open-source designs for everything from custom parts to educational projects. In a state already hostile to firearms rights, this move reeks of the same overreach seen in California’s microstamping mandates or New York’s assault weapon bans—vague language that starts with files but could ensnare anyone with a printer and a USB drive.

Dig deeper, and the implications for gun owners are chilling. By embedding gun control in the budget, Democrats ensured it couldn’t be easily stripped out without tanking funding for schools and roads—a classic poison pill tactic that’s become a blueprint for blue-state legislatures. This doesn’t just threaten the burgeoning home manufacturing revolution enabled by affordable printers like the Prusa or Ender series; it sets a precedent for federal copycats, especially as ATF rules on 80% lowers already squeeze DIY builders. Imagine a world where sharing a Glock frame STL file lands you in hot water, while criminals ignore laws and print anyway via dark web proxies. For the 2A crowd, it’s a wake-up call: 3D printing isn’t a loophole; it’s the future of decentralized self-defense, democratizing production much like the AR-15 did for rifles. Washington’s stunt underscores why vigilance on tech bans is non-negotiable—support groups like the Firearms Policy Coalition are already mobilizing lawsuits, but grassroots pressure on veto-proof majorities is key.

The silver lining? This overplay could backfire spectacularly. Public backlash is brewing, with memes and videos flooding X (formerly Twitter) exposing the bill’s absurdity—why ban files when hardware stores sell the same plastics? It galvanizes normies who see Big Brother eyeing their garage tinkering, potentially flipping suburban voters toward pro-2A candidates in ’26 midterms. Stay frosty, patriots: download those files now (legally, of course), back the legal fights, and keep pushing for nullification at the state level. If Washington falls, expect copycats in Oregon and blue New England— but a united front can print our way to victory.

Share this story