California SUES Websites — 1st and 2nd Amendments Under Fire

Person holding a document titled LAWSUIT in office.

California officials are targeting websites that distribute 3D-printable gun blueprints in a lawsuit that critics warn could criminalize law-abiding hobbyists and digital free speech under the guise of public safety.

Story Snapshot

California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued Florida-based websites Gatalog Foundation and CTRLPew on February 6, 2026, for distributing blueprints to 3D-print untraceable “ghost guns”
Ghost gun recoveries in California skyrocketed from 26 in 2015 to over 11,000 annually since 2021, fueling state crackdown efforts
Defendants include gun rights attorney Matthew Larosiere, who previously defended ghost gun manufacturing as a “legal hobby for enthusiasts”
The lawsuit targets digital code distribution rather than physical kits, raising First Amendment concerns among Second Amendment advocates

California Launches Unprecedented Digital Crackdown

Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed suit in San Francisco County Superior Court against Gatalog Foundation Inc., CTRLPew LLC, and three individuals, alleging they violated a January 1, 2026 state law prohibiting the facilitation of illegal firearm manufacturing. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to halt distribution of over 150 blueprints for 3D-printed firearms, including Glock-style handguns, machine gun conversion devices, and high-capacity magazines. State investigators verified the threat by downloading files and successfully printing a functional Glock-style handgun, demonstrating how easily prohibited persons could bypass background checks and serial number requirements.

Ghost Gun Crisis Fuels Government Overreach

California officials cite alarming statistics to justify their unprecedented action against digital files. Ghost gun recoveries surged from a mere 26 in 2015 to an average of 11,000 annually since 2021, with untraceable weapons increasingly linked to crimes committed by minors and felons. A 2024 incident saw a 14-year-old in Santa Rosa arrested for 3D-printing multiple firearms at home. Bonta claims the defendants enable “unlicensed people too young or dangerous” to manufacture weapons, while GIFFORDS Law Center Chief Counsel Adam Skaggs accuses them of recklessly arming prohibited individuals. Yet this narrative ignores legitimate uses by law-abiding citizens who value self-reliance and constitutional freedoms.

Defendants Represent Gun Rights Principles

The named defendants operate from Florida but face California’s heavy hand for distributing information nationwide. Matthew Larosiere serves as Gatalog Foundation president and brings credentials as a gun rights attorney who previously characterized ghost gun manufacturing as a “legal hobby” rather than criminal activity. Alexander Holladay and John Elik round out the leadership as principal treasurer and director respectively. The platforms host user-submitted designs, guides, and testing platforms accessible to anyone with internet access. Defendants were unreachable for comment following the lawsuit filing, leaving unanswered whether they will mount a First Amendment defense against what amounts to censorship of digital information.

Precedent Threatens Constitutional Rights Nationwide

This lawsuit breaks new ground by targeting code distribution rather than physical ghost gun kits, which California previously shut down through Attorney General Bonta’s partnership with GIFFORDS. The distinction matters profoundly for constitutional protections, as restricting digital files raises free speech issues alongside Second Amendment concerns. Law-abiding hobbyists who enjoy firearms engineering as a legitimate pursuit now face criminalization for sharing technical information. The case could set dangerous precedent for regulating digital content nationally, potentially driving platforms underground or sparking federal constitutional challenges. While California frames this as closing a loophole exploited by criminals, the collateral damage to citizens’ rights to access information and build legal firearms cannot be dismissed.

Short-Term Injunction Could Signal Long-Term Threat

If California secures its requested injunction, downloads of blueprints would cease for state residents, theoretically reducing 3D-printed ghost guns recovered by law enforcement in urban areas like San Francisco and Santa Rosa. Long-term implications extend far beyond California borders, as success here invites similar crackdowns in other anti-gun states and emboldens those seeking to regulate the intersection of technology and firearms. The lawsuit imposes minimal direct economic costs since files are typically free, but enforcement expenses and legal precedent carry significant weight. Communities may see reduced crime from untraceable weapons, yet the trade-off criminalizes a hobby practiced by countless Americans who respect the law and value the ability to manufacture firearms without government permission or registration, a principle rooted in self-sufficiency and resistance to tyranny.