California Penal Code 29185 – (a) No person, other than a state-licensed firearms …
(a) No person, other than a state-licensed firearms manufacturer, shall use a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine or three-dimensional printer to manufacture a firearm.
(b) It is unlawful to sell, offer to sell, or transfer a CNC milling machine or three-dimensional printer that has the sole or primary function of manufacturing firearms to any person in this state, other than a state-licensed firearms manufacturer.
Terms Used In California Penal Code 29185
- firearm: includes the frame or receiver of the weapon, including both a completed frame or receiver, or a firearm precursor part:
California Penal Code 16520
- person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Penal Code 7
- property: includes both real and personal property. See California Penal Code 7
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the district and territories. See California Penal Code 7
(c) It is unlawful for any person in this state other than a state-licensed firearms manufacturer to possess, purchase, or receive a CNC milling machine or three-dimensional printer that has the sole or primary function of manufacturing firearms.
(d) Subdivisions (b) and (c) do not apply to any of the following:
(1) A person who is engaged in the business of selling manufacturing equipment to a state-licensed firearms manufacturer, and who possesses a CNC milling machine or three-dimensional printer with the intent to sell or transfer the CNC milling machine or three-dimensional printer to a state licensed firearms manufacturer.
(2) A common carrier licensed under state law, or a motor carrier, air carrier or carrier affiliated with an air carrier through common controlling interest that is subject to Title 49 of the United States Code, or an authorized agent of any such carrier, when acting in the course and scope of duties incident to the receipt, processing, transportation, or delivery of property.
(3) A person who, before June 30, 2022, possessed a CNC milling machine that has the sole or primary function of manufacturing firearms and who, within 90 days after that date, does one of the following:
(A) Sells or transfers the machine to a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer.
(B) Sells or transfers the machine to a person described in paragraph (1).
(C) Removes the machine from this state.
(D) Relinquished the machine to a law enforcement agency.
(E) Otherwise lawfully terminates possession of the machine.
(4) A person who, before July 1, 2024, possessed a three-dimensional printer that has the sole or primary function of manufacturing firearms and who, within 90 days after that date, does one of the following:
(A) Sells or transfers the machine to a state-licensed firearms manufacturer.
(B) Sells or transfers the machine to a person described in paragraph (1).
(C) Removes the machine from this state.
(D) Relinquishes the machine to a law enforcement agency.
(E) Otherwise lawfully terminates possession of the machine.
(e) This section does not apply to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard, while on duty and acting within the scope and course of employment, or any law enforcement agency or forensic laboratory.
(f) A violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor.
(g) As used in this section, the following terms are defined as follows:
(1) “State-licensed firearms manufacturer” has the same meaning as the term “licensee” is defined in Section 29030.
(2) “Three-dimensional printer” means a computer-aided manufacturing device capable of producing a three-dimensional object from a three-dimensional digital model through an additive manufacturing process that involves the layering of two-dimensional cross sections formed of a resin or similar material that are fused together to form a three-dimensional object.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 243, Sec. 4. (AB 1089) Effective January 1, 2024.)