OLYMPIA, WA — The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) has issued a sharp rebuke of Washington’s House Bill 2320, criticizing both the bill’s content and the state legislature’s decision to bypass the usual committee process to expedite its path to the House floor.
On February 6, just hours after its last alert, the NRA-ILA publicly condemned the legislature’s decision to remove HB 2320 from the Appropriations Committee—a key stop for any bill with fiscal implications. The bill was instead routed directly to the Rules Committee, where it can be brought to a vote at any time.
According to the NRA, this maneuver “steamrolls more gun control through the process” without proper scrutiny or opportunity for public input. They argue the fiscal analysis accompanying the bill grossly underestimates its cost and enforcement complexity, focusing largely on administrative aspects rather than real-world implementation.
NRA’s Concerns With HB 2320
The NRA-ILA’s alert highlights what it considers serious constitutional concerns with HB 2320:
- Second Amendment: The bill criminalizes the private manufacture of firearms and components using 3D printers, CNC machines, or “other means.” The NRA argues this directly infringes on individuals’ rights to build firearms for lawful personal use—a practice historically protected under federal law for non-prohibited persons.
- First Amendment: The bill prohibits the distribution and even the possession of digital design files (like CAD or G-code) for firearms or parts, potentially criminalizing information and expression.
- Fifth Amendment: Because possession of files or tools can be used as presumptive evidence of criminal intent, the NRA warns the bill may force individuals to incriminate themselves in violation of due process protections.
- Vague Language: The use of the phrase “other means” in the manufacturing restrictions, the group argues, gives the state leeway to apply the law to traditional tools or methods, expanding its reach well beyond the digital realm.
A Broader NRA Strategy
This response is part of a broader NRA-ILA campaign opposing what it calls “backdoor gun control” efforts that target tools, knowledge, and access, rather than focusing on the criminal misuse of firearms. Washington, like several other states with Democratic legislative majorities, has seen a steady increase in bills aimed at regulating homebuilt firearms, “ghost guns,” and so-called assault weapons.
The NRA encourages Washington residents to contact their lawmakers immediately to voice opposition to the bill, warning that it could be brought to the floor without further notice.
A Pro-2A Perspective
The NRA’s response underscores growing concern among gun rights supporters that legislative efforts like HB 2320 do not just target criminals or dangerous individuals but law-abiding citizens who own tools, files, or knowledge deemed suspect by the state. The attempt to criminalize the means of legal firearm ownership and creation—rather than actual criminal misuse—is at the heart of the debate.
While public safety is a shared concern, laws that trample on foundational rights in the name of security deserve rigorous public and legal scrutiny. Efforts to restrict manufacturing files, 3D printers, and digital code raise serious questions about where the line is drawn between regulation and censorship.