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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 17, 2019 11:08 AM
From:	Senator Vincent J. Hughes and Sen. Wayne D. Fontana
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	3D-printed firearms

In the near future we plan on reintroducing Senate Bill 1266 from last session which amends Title 18 to ensure 3D-printed firearms are subject to the Uniform Firearm Act and to prohibit individuals from printing a firearm without a federal firearm manufacturing license. Last year a settlement in Federal Court made plans for 3D-printed firearms readily available across the United States. According to several news reports, people have already begun downloading 3D-printing plans for firearms. Several police departments have expressed concern about the dangers 3D-printed firearms pose. 3D-printed firearms are untraceable and lack identifying features commonly found on firearms, such as a serial number. Pennsylvania’s Attorney General and the Governor filed a suit in the District Court in Philadelphia seeking to prohibit Pennsylvania users from downloading 3D-printable firearm files. After an emergency hearing, the company, Defense Distributed, agreed to block Pennsylvania users from its site pending a resolution of the Pennsylvania case. Even President Trump recently noted that 3D-printed firearms “don’t make much sense.” Without adequate safeguards in place, 3D-printed firearms will be untraceable, undetectable and readily available. We are proposing legislation that would ensure a 3D-printed firearm is considered a firearm for purposes of Title 18. In addition, our legislation would prohibit anyone from printing a firearm without a license from the Federal Government to manufacture firearms. We hope you will join us in sponsoring this legislation. Please contact our offices if you have any questions.

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