Following Rep. Steve Israel’s (D-NY) announcement on Wednesday that he’s in the process of drafting legilsation to ban 3D printed, high capacity plastic gun magazines in the wake of a viral video posted last weekend showing one such 3D printed magazine being successfully test fired in an assault rifle, Israel has explained more of what specifically the legislation would outlaw in a revealing interview with Forbes’ Andy Greenberg on Friday.
Israel told Greenberg that he would not be attempting ban the circulation of the electronic (CAD) files used to print 3D high capacity magazines, let alone any other type of 3D printer file, but that his bill — an amendment to a larger bill to renew the Undetectable Firearms Act that expires in December 2013 — would prohibit the physical manufacture of such weapons. As Forbes’ Greenberg reported:
Forbes: And you’re not talking about some kind of digital rights management or other restrictions on 3D printers either?
Israel: Zero. We’re not going there. You want to download the blueprint, we’re not going near that. You want to buy a 3D printer and make something, buy a 3D printer and make something. But if you’re going to download a blueprint for a plastic weapon that can be brought onto an airplane, there’s a penalty to be paid.
Forbes: Just for downloading it?
Israel: No, no, for actually manufacturing it. And we’re not even going after manufacturers, either, but lone wolves, individuals.I just want to be clear. I’m not seeking to regulate or reduce the use of 3D printers at all. This isn’t about 3D printers. It’s about the use of a 3D printer to manufacture a weapon that can’t be detected by metal detectors.
A member of Israel’s staff told TPM that Israel’s proposed bill, specifically the 3D printing portion, was still being worked on with legislative counsel and that no draft copy had yet been created. Israel’s staffer told TPM that there was no timeline for when Israel would formally introduce the bill to the House.
(H/T: Julian Sanchez)
