I thought we were supposed to embrace change. Thanks to Defense Distributed, the old model of gun control no longer works. If people can simply print out a gun in the safety and anonymity of their own home, then all the infrastructure that California has put in place to disarm their subjects is completely useless. So what’s the first thing that famed anti-2A state senator Leland Yee proposes? Gun control, chapter one, page one: registration, background checks, and licensing. For printers. Yes, printers . . .

From the Sacramento CBS affiliate:

Video showing a plastic gun being test-fired appeared online last weekend, prompting Yee’s fears. He’s concerned that just about anyone with access to those cutting-edge printers can arm themselves. “Terrorists can make these guns and do some horrible things to an individual and then walk away scott-free, and that is something that is really dangerous,” said Yee. He said while this new technology is impressive, it must be regulated when it comes to making guns. He says background checks, requiring serial numbers and even registering them could be part of new legislation that he says will protect the public.

Civilian disarmament proponents have absolutely no idea how to respond to Defense Distributed’s Liberator, and it’s starting to show. They can’t countenance the idea that their population might actually be able to defend themselves against criminals (of both the petty and the governmental variety), and 3D printing represents a permanent loss of control over that means of self defense.

They can’t handle not being in control, so fall back on what they know, and decide to start regulating one step up that chain. In this case, it’s 3D printers. Which, especially for a state that prides itself on being high-tech, is more than a little ironic. If the younger generation wasn’t already turned off on this Yee character for his crusade against people’s First Amendment right to produce video games, then trying to shut down personal 3D printing in the cradle of Scilicon Valley should start people looking for the pitchforks and torches pretty quickly.

Oh, and even if Yee’s 3D printer control legislation is signed into law, 3D printing is an unstoppable force. Take for example the RepRap project, the entire point of which is to make self replicating 3D printers. Like tribbles, you start with one printer, and you end up with as many as you want for all your friends.

People laugh at us for using the “slippery slope” argument when it comes to gun control. Well, here it is in action. And it ain’t pretty.