States are rushing to ban devices that convert ordinary handguns into deadly machine guns, with more than half the nation now outlawing these controversial firearm modifications. The growing trend has united Republican and Democratic states in rare agreement on gun control, while Second Amendment advocates warn these laws infringe on constitutional rights.
At a glance:
• At least 25 states have now outlawed devices that convert pistols into machine guns
• Both Republican-led states like Alabama and Democratic states like New Mexico have enacted bans
• Federal law already prohibits machine guns and conversion devices, with violators facing up to 10 years in prison
• The Biden administration reported over 12,000 suspected conversion devices recovered in a 34-month period
• Gun rights groups argue state laws are unnecessary and restrict Second Amendment freedoms
Second Amendment Under Fire
The growing movement to ban firearm modification devices has spread across America, with half of U.S. states now criminalizing small parts that convert pistols into fully automatic weapons. The state laws mirror longstanding federal prohibitions, prompting Second Amendment defenders to denounce them as unnecessary.
Federal law has long defined a machine gun as any weapon that fires more than one shot per trigger pull, including any parts designed to convert regular firearms into automatic weapons. Possession of such weapons made after 1986 is generally illegal for civilians and can result in hefty prison sentences up to 10 years.
The small devices, commonly known as “Glock switches” or “auto sears,” can be attached to pistols allowing them to fire continuously until the trigger is released or ammunition is depleted. With the rise of 3D printing technology, these devices have become increasingly accessible.
Biden Administration Targets Gun Accessories
Law enforcement agencies report a dramatic increase in the seizure of conversion devices in recent years. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) documented only 814 seized conversion parts between 2012 and 2016, but that number skyrocketed to 5,454 between 2017 and 2021.
According to data released by the Biden administration, authorities recovered 12,360 suspected conversion devices during a 34-month period ending in October 2024. Nearly half of these devices were found in just five states, including Texas and Florida, prompting lawmakers in multiple jurisdictions to take action.
Alabama recently joined the growing list of states prohibiting these devices after multiple shootings involved weapons equipped with conversion parts. New Mexico similarly enacted legislation making possession a felony, with legislation pending in several other states.
Gun Rights Groups Fight Back
The National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America have strongly opposed the state laws, arguing they merely duplicate existing federal statutes and infringe on Second Amendment rights.
“Just because you put that on your firearm doesn’t mean that you are a violent criminal or that you necessarily are a dangerous person,” said Aidan Johnston, a representative from Gun Owners of America. Johnston described the state laws as “pure virtue signaling” and “duplicative” of existing regulations.
Gun rights advocates have also pointed out practical applications for automatic firearms in specific scenarios. Gun Owners of America noted that such weapons can have legitimate uses, such as controlling feral hog populations that cause millions in agricultural damage every year.
The push for state legislation continues despite these objections, with Virginia recently making auto sears illegal while broader restrictions on trigger activators were vetoed.
