Politicians are trying to infringe on both the rights of self-defense and free speech in their latest attempt at the impossible. With the 3D printing revolution taking place many politicians see the writing on the wall and realize their power to regulate manufacturing is waning. Hoping to head this technology off at the pass they’re trying to find a justification that people will fall for to pass regulations against 3D printing. Their betting everything on the populace finding the prospect of 3D printed firearms scary enough that they’ll support laws restricting what individuals can print on their 3D printers. But the rhetoric is especially amusing:
The notion of a 3-D printable gun has become the perfect flashpoint in a new conflict between digital arms control and free speech. Should Americans be allowed to say and share whatever they want online, even if that “speech” is a blueprint for a gun? The State Department has now answered that question with a resounding “no.”
That isn’t even the correct question. What everybody should be asking is if it’s even possible to enforce a law restricting what individuals can do with their 3D printers. The answer is no. Computer technology is far too pervasive to control anymore. Information can be shared amongst individuals around the world almost instantly. Anonymity tools allow individuals to share information without being identifiable. And even if people in the United States comply with a law against sharing 3D printer designs for firearms the rest of the world isn’t bound by such nonsense.
Censorship is dead and the Internet killed it. Any restriction against the sharing of ideas is unenforceable and therefore shouldn’t even be a consideration for politicians.