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The NRA article references last Wednesday's federal register, where on page two it has:

The Department proposes to revise the definition of ‘‘technical data’’ in ITAR § 120.10 in order to update and clarify the scope of information that may be captured within the definition. Paragraph (a)(1) of the revised definition defines ‘‘technical data’’ as information ‘‘required’’ for the ‘‘development,’’ ‘‘production,’’ operation, installation, maintenance, repair, overhaul, or refurbishing of a ‘‘defense article,’’ which harmonizes with the definition of ‘‘technology’’ in the EAR and the Wassenaar Arrangement.

§ 120.6 has "Defense article" means any item or technical data designated in § 121.1 of this subchapter."

§ 121.1 , in "Category I" includes rifles, shotguns, and pistols.

This could be applied to technical data on how to create a firearm, and specifically to 3-D printing of firearms. I could see the feds coming down on makers of 3-D printers to include a requirement that all designs for 3-D printing to be either uploaded to the feds by the printer, or that only approved designs be installable on a 3-D printer.

The Department proposes to revise the definition of ‘‘technical data’’ in ITAR § 120.10 in order to update and clarify the scope of information that may be captured within the definition. Paragraph (a)(1) of the revised definition defines ‘‘technical data’’ as information ‘‘required’’ for the ‘‘development,’’ ‘‘production,’’ operation, installation, maintenance, repair, overhaul, or refurbishing of a ‘‘defense article,’’ which harmonizes with the definition of ‘‘technology’’ in the EAR and the Wassenaar Arrangement.

§ 120.6 has "Defense article" means any item or technical data designated in § 121.1 of this subchapter."

§ 121.1 , in "Category I" includes rifles, shotguns, and pistols.

Thanks. The "or" means any one of those actions--not necessarily all. That would include "maintenance" of a firearm, for example, and affect publishing and availability of manuals. So would "repair." It would also affect the sales of materials for making firearms and parts, which sales include instructions available from the Internet.

And it would radically raise the costs of many things for people who aren't very technically inclined (technically inclined like the redneck neighbor under the hood of his vehicle down the street, or the unemployed machinist).