In a significant legislative move, New Mexico and Alabama have introduced laws to prohibit devices that convert standard pistols into automatic firearms. This action is part of a growing national effort to combat the rising use of such conversion devices, often referred to as “Glock switches.”
Both states, guided by bipartisan support, have made strides in enacting legislation against these devices. At present, over half of U.S. states have implemented laws targeting the possession of Glock switches, which have surfaced increasingly among crime investigations. This trend aligns with federal regulations that have long restricted machine guns and any parts capable of transforming semiautomatic firearms into automatic weapons.
Federal law categorizes a machine gun as any firearm that can fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull, including components designed to facilitate this modification. Since 1986, federal legislation has banned the ownership of machine guns manufactured after that year, with limited exceptions for law enforcement and military personnel. Most modern conversion devices now fall under this illegal classification.
Possession of machine guns or conversion devices can lead to severe penalties, with potential prison sentences of up to 10 years. Glock switches, small components resembling coins, can significantly alter the firing mechanism of popular Glock handguns, resulting in a continuous firing effect when the trigger is engaged. This capability allows modified weapons to discharge multiple rounds in mere seconds.
The past decade has seen a surge in the availability of such conversion devices, partly due to advancements in 3D printing technology, making it easier for individuals to create them inexpensively. Recent statistics indicate a troubling increase in the seizure of machine-gun conversion components. For example, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reported a jump from 814 conversion parts confiscated between 2012 and 2016 to 5,454 during a subsequent four-year span.
As of January, an alarming total of 12,360 suspected machine-gun conversion devices were recovered across the United States, with five states—Florida, Illinois, Texas, Montana, and North Dakota—accounting for nearly half of the confiscated items. Alabama has recently joined the ranks of states actively banning these devices, with Governor Kay Ivey signing legislation imposing felony charges for possession.
The bipartisan initiative in Alabama intensified following tragic incidents where conversion devices were believed to have played a role in violent attacks, including a September shooting that resulted in four deaths and numerous injuries in Birmingham. Similarly, New Mexico passed a law earlier this year criminalizing the possession of weapon conversion devices with penalties of up to three years in prison.
Meanwhile, New Jersey’s General Assembly has also advanced similar legislation, with further bills expected in other states. Virginia’s Governor recently signed a law to outlaw auto sears but vetoed a proposal that aimed to broaden restrictions on devices enhancing the firing rates of semiautomatic weapons.
Gun safety groups advocate for comprehensive measures to address the issue further, pushing for laws that would prohibit the sale of pistols adaptable into machine guns in states like California, Maryland, and New York. Legal actions targeting these manufacturers have also emerged in municipalities including Baltimore and Chicago.
Contrarily, the National Rifle Association asserts that existing federal laws are sufficient to prosecute wrongdoers without necessitating state-specific regulations. Gun rights advocates argue that the ability to own such conversion devices should be protected under the Second Amendment, asserting that they can serve practical uses in certain contexts.
As the landscape of gun legislation evolves, the ongoing debate surrounding the regulation of machine gun conversion devices remains a focal point for state and national lawmakers.
