4 ms·

There are just so many interesting angles to this story. I'll start with just one... The government is always behind the curve when it comes to regulating tech

There are just so many interesting angles to this story. I'll start with just one... The government is always behind the curve when it comes to regulating technology. The rise of text messaging has forced local and state governments to create new laws to discourage/punish distracted driving. Airbnb and Uber have disrupted the traditional hotel and taxicab industries respectively, and have caused lawmakers to rethink how best to regulate those industries. 3-D printing is on the verge of becoming a mainstream technology and we'll continue to see more issues like the one highlighted in this story. The Second Amendment to the US Constitution protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Does it also allow us to print our own weapons? Does the First Amendment to the US Constitution protect websites that provide instructions and blueprints on how to print your own weapons (or parts of weapons)?

damoncali 14y ago
Does it also allow us to print our own weapons?... The bill of rights restricts government, not the people. It is an important distinction missed by many.
- talmand 14y ago
  Hear, hear!
noarchy 14y ago
Cases like Uber aren't just pushing governments to rethink regulations, but these emerging businesses are routing around regulations. This is an encouraging trend, I think. As government stifles certain industries (like taxis) with regulation, creative entrepreneurs can still find ways to give people choices. On another topic, if governments go after websites that host information on the "printing" of weapons, those sites can switch their hosting provider to a friendlier country. Failing that, they can become onion sites, or something similar. Again, people can manage to stay ahead of whatever government is doing.