The California State Senator who introduced proposed legislation to regulate 3D printers for fear of uncontrolled 3D printed guns has been ironically charged with firearms trafficking.
State Senator Leyland Yee was charged by the FBI with “conspiring to traffic in firearms and public corruption”, after being caught attempting to exchange the arrangement of an arms deal for campaign contributions. According to Mercury News,
Previously, Senator Yee had called for laws to regulate 3D printers, specifically ensuring 3D printed guns would include serial numbers that must be registered. However, the means to accomplish that is beyond us and apparently others, as this concept hasn’t gotten anywhere.
Meanwhile, Mr. Yee may be headed elsewhere, as Mercury News reports:
Yee is charged with conspiracy to traffic in firearms without a license and to illegally import firearms, as well as six counts of scheming to defraud citizens of honest services. Each corruption count is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, while the gun-trafficking count is punishable by up to five years and $250,000.
Clearly, regulation of 3D printing requires more thought.
Via Mercury News