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State of California sues 3D printer filament company Polymaker for promoting ghost guns by marketing to 3D-printed gun community — state alleges company turns harmless PLA filament into a regulated 'firearm precursor part' The newly formed Consumer Fairness and Public Protection Division is also targeting Roblox and AppLovin. California is taking another swing at banning 3D-printed “ghost guns,” and this time the target is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of 3D printing filament. Polymaker LLC, headquartered in Shanghai with U.S. operations based in Houston, was named in a civil lawsuit filed October 5, 2026, by San Diego County Counsel on behalf of the People of the State of California. The complaint alleges that Polymaker marketed its filament in such a way as to appeal to gun enthusiasts and thus transform harmless PLA into a regulated “firearm precursor part.” Under California law, a firearm precursor part is “defined to include any article marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled or converted,” according to the civil complaint filed in San Diego County Superior Court. The County seeks disgorgement of profits, civil penalties and injunctive relief. The complaint acknowledges that 3D printing filament itself is not illegal. But prosecutors argue that Polymaker actively cultivated and monetized the “ghost gun” community by supporting and then hiring Sean Aranda, who goes by The 3D Print General on social media. Aranda, a 3D printing expert, book author, and gun enthusiast, was banned from YouTube in 2023 over firearm policy violations. His YouTube channel at the time had 123K subs. Polymaker, which had been sponsoring his channel with a special edition creator spool of khaki colored PLA Pro, came to his rescue with a job offer. He became the Head of Customer Experience, which entailed fostering Polymaker’s online community and attending community festivals with the company. He is now a Senior Technical Account Manager for Polymaker. Aranda is mentioned 65 times in the 39-page People v. Polymaker complaint. The prosecution implies that Aranda was specifically hired for his connection to the 3D printing gun community and not that he was simply a qualified individual searching for a job away from content creation. The prosecution attempts to link a common marketing tactic used within the online creator community to the illegal proliferation of ghost guns: affiliate links. Affiliate links are used by content creators to promote the products they use, be it spools of PLA, energy drinks, or dog food. When an audience member clicks a link and makes a purchase, the content creator is awarded a small percentage of the sale. Polymaker supports all manner of 3D printing content creators, and the application for affiliate links is publicly posted on its website. The application asks for your name, location, and number of followers on assorted platforms. It does not ask what type of content you create or how big your audience might be. “Whether you run a YouTube channel, a TikTok account, or a niche 3D printing blog, you're welcome here. If you love Polymaker, you qualify.” The lawsuit is presented by San Diego County’s new Consumer Fairness and Public Protection Division. If it prevails, the ramifications will extend far beyond 3D-printed firearms. If a manufacturer in Texas can be held civilly liable in California because a YouTuber used that product to do something that is not against the law in their home state, every raw material supplier, software developer, and desktop hardware manufacturer operating in the digital age could find itself in the crosshairs. Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds. Denise Bertacchi is a Contributing Writer for Tom’s Hardware US, covering 3D printing. Denise has been crafting with PCs since she discovered Print Shop had clip art on her Apple IIe. She loves reviewing 3D printers because she can mix all her passions: printing, photography, and writing. - Eury But we the people have the right to manufacture personal firearms... Its not illegal, even tho the media and California try to make people believe that it is illegalReply - fullysemiproblematic Lol now I'm going to produce short-barrelled ghost guns with suppressors and there's nothing you can do about itReply - Kindaian Doesn't that goes contrary to all kinds of rights that the companies do have? As in freedom to trade? Not sure, but looks like this kind of legislation is getting used for all kinds of nefarious effects. Are they going after all filament manufacturers in the world next, just because it's possible to do something with it that they don't like? Where does the line stand then? Reply - BigDaddyDK Why_Me said:California's priorities are all messed up.California's priorities are all messed up. This seems to capture it just a bit more accurately. Reply - TechieTwo Until the clueless acknowledge that criminals are the problem, not the device they use to attack victims, the insanity will continue. If the device was the REAL problem, then society would need to ban everything that can be used as a weapon from a baseball bat to an airplane and everything in between. Only the illiterate and those in denial believe that guns are the actual problem.Reply - drivinfast247 Admin said:The newly formed Consumer Fairness and Public Protection Division ... I wonder how many billions of taxpayer dollars that will laund...er, I mean waste. Reply - SomeoneElse23 TechieTwo said:Until the clueless acknowledge that criminals are the problem, not the device they use to attack victims, the insanity will continue. If the device was the REAL problem, then society would need to ban everything that can be used as a weapon from a baseball bat to an airplane and everything in between. Only the illiterate and those in denial believe that guns are the actual problem.One side of the political world is a master of verbal manipulation. Repeat the same lie often enough, and the weak minded start to believe it, and even repeat it. Reply - RandomLuck Washington State passed it's own nearly impossible to enforce law: House Bill 2320 (Signed March 24, 2026) Prohibits using 3D printers and CNC milling machines to manufacture untraceable "ghost guns," firearm frames, receivers, or machine-gun conversion devices unless you hold a federal firearms license (FFL). It also restricts possessing digital firearm manufacturing codes with the intent to print them illegally. You cannot lawfully manufacture an untraceable, home-built firearm for personal use in Washington State, regardless of whether you use a 3D printer, a CNC machine, or traditional hand tools (like a drill press, files, or a jig) Lawmakers purposefully included a catch-all phrase. It states it is unlawful to knowingly or recklessly manufacture a firearm frame or receiver using a 3D printer, CNC machine, "or by other means," unless you hold a Federal Firearms License (FFL). Surely this will stop gun violence. How about passing free health care and education? Real change takes more than passing laws that are basically worthless. Reply
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