Colorado: Committee Hearing on 3D-Printing Ban Tomorrow

March 18, 2026
8:00 am

▶

Listen to Article

Tomorrow, March 19th, Colorado's Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee dives into HB26-1144, a bill that would outright ban 3D-printed firearms and unserialized guns—effectively criminalizing a technology that's democratizing manufacturing for hobbyists, innovators, and yes, responsible gun owners. This isn't just about printers churning out plastic props; it's a direct assault on the right to build your own tools of self-defense, echoing the ghost gun hysteria that's gripped blue states from California to New York. Proponents wave the bloody shirt of public safety, but let's call it what it is: a preemptive strike against decentralized production that bypasses government gatekeepers. In a post-ATF FinCEN ruling world, where federal ghost gun regs are already crumbling under legal fire, Colorado's move smells like desperation to keep the nanny state in control. Dig deeper, and the implications for the 2A community are seismic. 3D printing isn't some fringe fad—it's exploded in accessibility, with files like the Liberator or FGC-9 proving you can fabricate functional firearms from everyday parts and a $300 printer. Banning it in Colorado doesn't stop criminals (who don't follow laws anyway) but handcuffs law-abiding citizens experimenting with homebrew AR lowers or suppressors. This sets a precedent: if printers are next, what's after? CNC mills? HelloKitty ovens for melting lead? It's the slippery slope to total serialization, where every bullet must phone home. For the national fight, it's a rallying cry—2A warriors should flood that hearing with testimony, emails, and live streams, turning it into a viral embarrassment for anti-gunners. Groups like GOA and FPC are already mobilizing; if this passes, expect lawsuits galore, citing Heller's nod to individual rights and the 5th Circuit's smackdown on similar regs. The silver lining? These overreaches often backfire, galvanizing the community like California's mag ban did for standard-capacity carriers. Colorado's 2A backbone—rural sheriffs, mountain town militias, and urban concealed carriers—won't roll over. Stock up on filament, archive those files on decentralized networks, and show up tomorrow. This isn't just a hearing; it's the front line in the war for technological liberty. Stay vigilant, print on, and keep fighting.

Best FFL Software Ranked and Compared!

Tomorrow, March 19th, Colorado’s Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee dives into HB26-1144, a bill that would outright ban 3D-printed firearms and unserialized guns—effectively criminalizing a technology that’s democratizing manufacturing for hobbyists, innovators, and yes, responsible gun owners. This isn’t just about printers churning out plastic props; it’s a direct assault on the right to build your own tools of self-defense, echoing the ghost gun hysteria that’s gripped blue states from California to New York. Proponents wave the bloody shirt of public safety, but let’s call it what it is: a preemptive strike against decentralized production that bypasses government gatekeepers. In a post-ATF FinCEN ruling world, where federal ghost gun regs are already crumbling under legal fire, Colorado’s move smells like desperation to keep the nanny state in control.

Dig deeper, and the implications for the 2A community are seismic. 3D printing isn’t some fringe fad—it’s exploded in accessibility, with files like the Liberator or FGC-9 proving you can fabricate functional firearms from everyday parts and a $300 printer. Banning it in Colorado doesn’t stop criminals (who don’t follow laws anyway) but handcuffs law-abiding citizens experimenting with homebrew AR lowers or suppressors. This sets a precedent: if printers are next, what’s after? CNC mills? HelloKitty ovens for melting lead? It’s the slippery slope to total serialization, where every bullet must phone home. For the national fight, it’s a rallying cry—2A warriors should flood that hearing with testimony, emails, and live streams, turning it into a viral embarrassment for anti-gunners. Groups like GOA and FPC are already mobilizing; if this passes, expect lawsuits galore, citing Heller’s nod to individual rights and the 5th Circuit’s smackdown on similar regs.

The silver lining? These overreaches often backfire, galvanizing the community like California’s mag ban did for standard-capacity carriers. Colorado’s 2A backbone—rural sheriffs, mountain town militias, and urban concealed carriers—won’t roll over. Stock up on filament, archive those files on decentralized networks, and show up tomorrow. This isn’t just a hearing; it’s the front line in the war for technological liberty. Stay vigilant, print on, and keep fighting.

Share this story