US Gun Violence: Why Are Several States Banning Glock Switches And How Does It Work?

A Glock switch is a type of machine gun conversion device that attaches to the back of Glock pistol, often used by both the police and criminals. 

The devices convert semi-automatic guns to fire like a fully automatic weapon.

Several states in the United States are backing a law to ban devices that convert pistols into machine guns. The devices convert semi-automatic guns to fire like a fully automatic weapon and have been used in several mass shootings in the US.

In New Mexico, the police and prosecutors have backed an effort to outlaw Glock switches, while in Alabama, the governor has made it a priority, according to the Associated Press.

The report said that half of the US states have made similar laws prohibiting the possession of such devices. The states are mimicking federal law, which for decades has generally prohibited machine guns that can transform semiautomatic weapons into automatic ones.

The federal law defines a machine gun as a weapon that automatically fires more than one shot with a single pull of a trigger. The definition of the machine gun also includes any parts designed to convert a weapon into a machine gun.

The law prohibits the civilian use of machine guns manufactured after 1986 and are only allowed for law enforcement, the military and certain licensed dealers. 

Most of the conversion devices are illegal in the US because they were made more recently. The people convicted of possessing machine guns and conversion devices can face up to 10 years in prison.

What Is Glock Switch?

A Glock switch is a type of machine gun conversion device that attaches to the back of Glock pistol, often used by both the police and criminals. 

It’s a metal or plastic piece and is about the size of a coin. The switch when attached to the gun interferes with the internal trigger components so that it fires continuously when the trigger is pulled back and held.

A gun fitted with a switch can fire dozens of bullets in mere seconds, similar to a factory-made machine gun. Police have said that the devices produce a rapid, hard-to-control spray of bullets that increase the number of casualties during a shooting.