TIME CRITICAL, contact your WA representatives if concerned.
HB-2320: Presumed guilty for possessing a file. You have 48 hours before they vote
This bill makes a citizen presumed guilty until proven innocent for simply having a digital file. Specifically, “Possession of digital firearm manufacturing code for an unfinished frame or receiver creates a rebuttable presumption of an intent to unlawfully distribute the code or manufacture an unfinished frame or receiver in violation of this subsection” (ref sec. 6, p30, lines 13-16).
A rebuttal presumption means you are guilty until proven innocent.
According to HB-2320, the data file does not even need to be usable for the State to prove presumptive guilt. (sec. 2, p7, lines 4-9)
HB-2321 affects AVID CNC owners and manufacturers. It REQUIRES your activities be monitored by the WA attorney general or designees. Itdefines a 3D printerto include subtractive manufacturing machines, such as CNC machines, lathes, and laser cutters/engravers, meaning the law affects a wide range of fabrication tools (section 1.7, lines 13-17).
Bill 2320 seemed a little nuts until I read 2321. Sounds like a lot of CNC tools and 3d printers may simply be unavailable to Washington residents if this goes through.
That’s why we need to contact our legislators. The system only works if we participate. Time is short on HB-2020.
Note that even possessing a data file (G-code, STEP, IGES, Parasolid, SolidWorks, stl, 3mf, etcetera) that MAY be used to print an item the AI decides to flag (ghost gun parts for the moment, think right to repair next) means you are guilty of a felony unless you can prove your innocence (see rebuttable presumption). This is the opposite of the presumption of innocence. The State sees you as a criminal from the get-go and hope the judge believe you.
No CNC or 3D printer required.
Similar legislation is being proposed in New York.
Trust me, I sooo want this to not be true.
The part in the datafile does not even need to be functional.
So, the AI screws up, you get a summons and legal fees or visit from the police.
Out-of-state CAD/CAM incurs liability as I understand the WA statute allows for out-of-state prosecution (See the YouTube links. I’m not an attorney).
If you are concerned, use the links to contact your legislator. I suggest ASAP.
Unless I am missing something my understanding of 2320 was that it prohibits the distribution of digital files for making undetectable or illegal firearms, and that 2321 requires the 3D printer manufacturers add “blocking” code in them to prevent 3D printers from printing firearms. There is no mention of CNC in 2321.
Maybe, or maybe think about it like a speed trap: You get caught but you’re innocent until proven guilty. What will be interesting is to see where the “speed trap” in this case is… Many 3D printers these days transmit G code from the user across the internet and then to the printer…
But I don’t know what I’m talking about, call your lawmakers and ask them. That’s why we elected them!
13 (7) “Three-dimensional printer” means (a) any machine capable of
14 rendering a three-dimensional object from a digital design file using
15 additive manufacturing or (b) any machine capable of making three
16 dimensional modifications to an object from a digital design file
using subtractive manufacturing.
HB-2321 affects AVID CNC owners and manufacturers. It REQUIRES your activities be monitored by the WA attorney general or designees. Itdefines a 3D printerto include subtractive manufacturing machines, such as CNC machines, lathes, and laser cutters/engravers, meaning the law affects a wide range of fabrication tools (page 2, section 1.7, lines 13-17).
Speaking now is A LOT easier than getting rid of it once it is law (or being prosecuted). or being unable to purchase consumables and tools (due to liability), insurance, and the list goes on ….
QUESTION: What other forums, communities, and the like can I/we contact to make people aware of this legislation?
You can’t make the following up, and this is my last post on this subject.
People will contact their legislators or not. People will either get organized and let their friends and business know or not.
Thanks to Eric at Avid for paying attention.
Good luck everyone.
A foreign company (in this case Spanish) is working to be the government designated software and firmware kill switch that can block your work at any time (and throw off your customer schedules) plus the company will log your activity for future copyright litigation. Per the House Bill, if the designee (potentially a foreign company) flags a gun part, even at a later date, the identified individual or business is charged and presumed guilty of a felony.
There is no limitation in the proposed WA legislation that the WA State attorney general designee be a Washington or US company. It is up to the designee (in this case, an identified foreign firm) to determine if and who should be served on the felony charge.
There are no restrictions about what data they can keep and for how long, nor how they use it. There are no restrictions on they can sell it or access to it for copyright infringement, protect it, or use it for training AI to create derivative works.
