3 Apr
2026
3 Apr
'26
1:16 p.m.
Sudo members and Trishna -
On Wed, Apr 01, 2026 at 01:09:33PM -0700, Jake via sudo-discuss wrote:
Bill AB-2047 (3D printer regulation) just passed
Public Safety 6-0 and is
moving to Judiciary, and is listed for an April 14 hearing. The bill would
require certified firearm-blueprint detection plus certified software
controls for printer models sold or transferred in California, with DOJ
guidance due in 2027 and the sales restrictions becoming operative March 1,
2029.
Sounds predictably terrible. The timeline for doing anything is also
very tight. Dreaming a little here..
Could "we" get a protest/demo together up in Sacramento, where we
publicly and visibly build a bunch of 3D printers, to tangibly
show the legislators (and their staff) what it is that they are
foolishly trying to control?
To make sense, it would have to be a scratch-build, RepRap-style,
not just unpacking a kit from China and bolting the pieces together.
The software needs to be Free with a capital F, and the parts need
to be commodities such that nobody can point at e.g. the extruder and
say "let's regulate that".
By "we" I hope that includes some other Bay Area and Sacramento
maker communities, not just sudo room. Whatever can be arranged in
this stupidly short timeline. The political angle is important,
so Democratic Club help would also count.
My mind races to lots of details. If anyone thinks this is a good
idea and possible to organize in this time frame, please continue
this thread!
- Larry
P.S. If anyone is in direct contact with Trishna, please ping her to
check her spam folder. Gmail almost always sends my emails to spam.