California lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require all 3D printers sold or transferred in the state to include certified “firearm blocking technology” starting March 1, 2029, effectively banning non-compliant models and making modifications a misdemeanor in a push to curb the printing of illegal firearms.
Assembly Bill 2047, dubbed the California Firearm Printing Prevention Act, was introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan on February 17, 2026, and would mandate that 3D printers incorporate integrated hardware, firmware, and software using a “firearm blueprint detection algorithm” to scan files and prevent the manufacture of firearms or illegal firearm parts. The Department of Justice (DOJ) would maintain a roster of approved printers, with manufacturers required to submit attestations for each model certifying compliance. Violators face civil penalties up to $25,000 per offense, and knowingly disabling the technology would be punishable as a misdemeanor.
The legislation expands on similar measures in Washington state and New York, which also require blocking software, but adds a full certification regime, potentially impacting general-purpose 3D printers used for hobbies, prototyping, and education. Critics, including policy expert Michael Weinberg, argue that software cannot reliably distinguish firearm parts from innocuous objects like pipe fittings based on geometry alone, and open-source firmware could allow users to bypass restrictions. “Stupidity on steroids,” one commentator called it, questioning how printers identify components like springs as triggers.
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Proponents frame it as a necessary step to prevent “ghost guns”, untraceable firearms assembled from 3D-printed parts—amid rising concerns over homemade weapons. The bill does not explicitly require printers to “report” to authorities but mandates detection and blocking, which some describe as “surveillance software” that effectively monitors print jobs.
If passed, the measure could force manufacturers to comply nationwide, given California’s market size, potentially reshaping the 3D printing industry.
As 3D printing democratizes manufacturing, bills like AB-2047 highlight tensions between innovation and public safety, but enforcement challenges and potential overreach could spark legal battles in a tech-savvy state.
