Colorado Democrats Push Ban on 3D Printing of Firearms, Firearm Parts

February 6, 2026
7:55 am

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Colorado Democrats are at it again, wielding the legislative hammer against innovation and self-reliance with a fresh bill in the House and Senate that outright bans 3D printing of firearms and firearm parts. This isn't some fringe proposal—it's a calculated strike from the party that's long viewed the Second Amendment as an inconvenient relic, now targeting the democratizing power of desktop manufacturing. Picture this: hobbyists, engineers, and everyday defenders of liberty tinkering in garages, printing custom grips, replacement lowers, or even full frames from open-source designs like the Liberator or FGC-9. No more. If this passes, Colorado's makers would face felony charges for what amounts to digital blacksmithing, all under the guise of public safety. The implications for the 2A community are seismic, especially as 3D printing evolves from novelty to necessity amid supply chain chokepoints and parts shortages we've seen post-2020 panic buys and ongoing ATF overreach. This ban doesn't just criminalize code and plastic—it's a preemptive assault on the future of decentralized gun rights, where anyone with a $300 printer and free blueprints can sidestep FFL gatekeepers. We've already watched states like California and New York nibble at the edges with ghost gun laws, but Colorado's move escalates to outright prohibition of the tech itself, potentially setting a template for blue-state dominoes. It's clever in its myopia: lawmakers ignore how bans drive innovation underground, fueling black markets and international file-sharing networks that make Prohibition-era speakeasies look quaint. For gun owners nationwide, this is a clarion call—support groups like the Firearms Policy Coalition or COSA are mobilizing, but expect court battles invoking the First (speech as code) and Second Amendments to light up the dockets. Ultimately, this reeks of elite panic over losing control in an era where information wants to be free and so do our tools. 2A advocates, take note: rally your reps, print while you can (legally, of course), and remember that every restriction hardens resolve. Colorado's Rockies might be purple, but the right to bear arms—and build them—won't erode without a fight. Stay vigilant; the printing press of the 21st century is under siege.

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The implications for the 2A community are seismic, especially as 3D printing evolves from novelty to necessity amid supply chain chokepoints and parts shortages we’ve seen post-2020 panic buys and ongoing ATF overreach. This ban doesn’t just criminalize code and plastic—it’s a preemptive assault on the future of decentralized gun rights, where anyone with a $300 printer and free blueprints can sidestep FFL gatekeepers. We’ve already watched states like California and New York nibble at the edges with ghost gun laws, but Colorado’s move escalates to outright prohibition of the tech itself, potentially setting a template for blue-state dominoes. It’s clever in its myopia: lawmakers ignore how bans drive innovation underground, fueling black markets and international file-sharing networks that make Prohibition-era speakeasies look quaint. For gun owners nationwide, this is a clarion call—support groups like the Firearms Policy Coalition or COSA are mobilizing, but expect court battles invoking the First (speech as code) and Second Amendments to light up the dockets.

Ultimately, this reeks of elite panic over losing control in an era where information wants to be free and so do our tools. 2A advocates, take note: rally your reps, print while you can (legally, of course), and remember that every restriction hardens resolve. Colorado’s Rockies might be purple, but the right to bear arms—and build them—won’t erode without a fight. Stay vigilant; the printing press of the 21st century is under siege.

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