Attorney General Weaponizes Law Against Gun Files

California’s latest lawsuit targeting 3D-printed firearm blueprints marks a dangerous escalation in the state’s campaign against lawful gun ownership, criminalizing the sharing of information and threatening the constitutional rights of Americans who’ve never committed a crime.

Story Snapshot

California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed lawsuit against websites distributing 3D-printable gun code, targeting Florida-based Gatalog Foundation and CTRLPEW
Lawsuit seeks to ban access to over 150 firearm designs under new 2026 California law prohibiting digital blueprint distribution
Ghost gun recoveries jumped from 26 in 2015 to over 11,000 annually since 2021, according to state claims
Defendants include Matthew Larosiere, gun rights attorney who previously defended home firearm manufacturing as “legal hobby”
Legal action represents first major attempt to criminalize digital code sharing for firearms, setting precedent for nationwide restrictions

California Targets Digital Code Distributors in Unprecedented Legal Action

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court on February 6-7, 2026, against Gatalog Foundation Inc., CTRLPEW LLC, and three individuals including company president Matthew Larosiere. The suit alleges unlawful distribution of 3D-printable computer code for unserialized firearms, machine gun conversion devices, and large-capacity magazines. The lawsuit builds on a new California law that took effect January 1, 2026, prohibiting the promotion or facilitation of illegal firearm manufacturing through digital means. This represents California’s first enforcement action specifically targeting the sharing of digital firearms blueprints rather than physical gun kits.

State Claims Ghost Guns Pose Public Safety Crisis

Bonta’s office claims ghost gun recoveries in California exploded from just 26 in 2015 to more than 11,000 annually since 2021, describing the situation as a public safety crisis. The lawsuit cites a 2024 incident in Santa Rosa where a 14-year-old allegedly manufactured multiple 3D-printed firearms. Attorney General Bonta characterized the defendants’ activities as a “skip-the-background-check business model” that enables dangerous individuals to arm themselves. City Attorney Chiu argued the websites make it “quick, cheap, and easy for anyone, including teenagers” to produce untraceable weapons. The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to immediately halt distribution of what they term “illegal” blueprints to California residents.

Lawsuit Threatens Constitutional Rights and Lawful Activities

This legal action raises serious concerns about First Amendment protections for information sharing and Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms. Defendant Matthew Larosiere, a gun rights attorney, previously defended ghost gun manufacturing in 2019 as a “legal hobby” for law-abiding Americans. The lawsuit targets over 150 firearm designs, including common handgun patterns that citizens have historically been able to manufacture at home without government interference. By criminalizing the distribution of computer code and technical information, California is setting a dangerous precedent that treats sharing knowledge as equivalent to criminal activity. This approach punishes platforms and individuals for providing information, not for any violent acts, effectively making criminals out of people engaged in constitutionally protected activities.

Florida-Based Defendants Face California Overreach

The defendants—Florida-based Gatalog Foundation, CTRLPEW LLC, and individuals Alexander Holladay, John Elik, and Matthew Larosiere—were unreachable for comment following the lawsuit filing. California is attempting to impose its restrictive gun control policies on out-of-state entities, expanding its regulatory reach beyond its borders. The legal action partnered with the anti-gun GIFFORDS Law Center, whose attorney Adam Skaggs claimed the industry has shifted to 3D-printable code to arm “minors, felons, and abusers.” However, this characterization ignores the millions of law-abiding gun owners and hobbyists who engage in home firearm manufacturing for legitimate self-defense and recreational purposes without running afoul of existing laws.

Precedent Could Spark Nationwide Information Crackdown

California’s lawsuit aims to establish a nationwide model for restricting access to technical firearm information, potentially influencing federal policy under future administrations hostile to gun rights. If successful, the injunction would block California residents from accessing digital files available to citizens in free states, creating a tiered system of constitutional rights based on geography. The case tests whether states can criminalize the sharing of information—computer code and technical specifications—that has traditionally been protected speech. This represents government overreach at its finest: rather than prosecuting actual criminals who misuse firearms, California targets the tools and information that law-abiding citizens use to exercise their constitutional rights. The long-term implications extend beyond firearms to any technical information governments deem problematic.