New Legislation 3D Digital Blueprints for Firearms

A digital blueprint is:

• Any type of digital or electronic reproduction of a technical drawing or
• Any electronic coding

or

• Any computer aided design (CAD) that if combined with a 3D printer or other similar technology may manufacture a firearm or other related item.

Possession of the digital blueprint includes:

Possession of a digital blueprint stored on or held within a

• computer
• data storage device
• any document holding the blueprint

Control of the blueprint includes:

• A computer or data storage device in the possession of another person in any jurisdiction or
• Held on a remote storage structure in any jurisdiction that is accessible from a computer

The legislation provides for some persons to possess a digital blueprint for firearms.

Firearms licensees may have a digital blueprint that relates to a firearm lawfully owned by or possessed by that licensee.

Firearms licensees permitted under the Firearms Act 2015 to manufacture a firearm may possess the blueprint relevant to the manufacturing scope of that licence.

Any person or other entity authorised by a permit written and conditioned by the Registrar of Firearms may possess a blueprint for a firearm (or other related item) if that blueprint is within the scope of the permitted research. Refer to Permits to Possess 3D Blueprints for more information.

In all the above exemptions, the person must be a fit and proper person for the purpose of the Firearms Act 2015.

The legislation provides for the Registrar of Firearms to issue and condition written permits for those fit and proper people or other entities involved in lawful research.

The research fields must be:

• Scientific
• Medical
• Educational
• Military or
• Law Enforcement focused

The Registrar of Firearms has determined the following standard conditions for all permits

1. Restrict the possession and use of the permit to the limitations of the research advised in the application.
2. Any person or organisation permitted to possess a digital blueprint for a firearm, firearm part, sound moderator or any other firearm related item must take all reasonable precautions to prevent the blueprints from being stolen or coming into the possession of an unauthorised entity either digitally or physically.
3. If a breach of security does occur, the Registrar is to be notified within 24 hours of detecting the breach; detailing the timeframe, file type and firearm relevance of the file.
4. Any storage systems / devices being disposed of must have the blueprints removed prior to disposal.

Each person involved in the research must obtain the relevant permit.

Applications for a permit are submitted through a police station.

Provide an Application for a Permit - RF1740A

Produce 100 points of identification for any person involved with the permit

Include documentation that supports the need for the blueprints involved with the research.