Proposed New York Law Could Require Background Checks Before Buying 3D Printers

A new law is being considered by New York's state legislature, reports a local news outlet. 'if passed, will require anyone buying a 3D printer to pass a background check. If you can't legally own a firearm, you won't be able to buy one of these printers...'

It is illegal to print most gun parts in New York. Attorney Greg Rinckey believes the proposal is an overreach. 'I think this is also gonna face some constitutional problems. I mean, it really comes down to a legal parsing of what are you printing and at what point is it technically a firearm?'

[Ascent Fabrication owner Joe] Fairley thinks lawmakers should shift their focus on those partial gun kits that produce the metal firing components. Another possibility is to require printer manufacturers to install software that prevents gun parts from being printed. 'They would need to agree on some algorithm to look at the part and say nope, that is a gun component, you're not allowed to print that part somehow,' said Fairley. 'But I feel like it would be extremely difficult to get to that point.'

Read more of this story at Slashdot.