Deadly conversion devices fuel surge in gun violence
November 13, 2024 | Judiciary: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation
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In a recent government meeting, officials addressed the alarming rise of conversion devices that significantly enhance the lethality of firearms in the United States. The discussion was prompted by the tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017, where a gunman used a bump stock to kill 58 people and injure over 400. This incident highlighted the urgent need for legislative action to restrict access to such devices.
The meeting revealed that conversion devices, including bump stocks and Glock switches, are increasingly prevalent on the streets. Glock switches, which can convert a semi-automatic handgun into an automatic weapon, are particularly concerning due to their low cost—often under $20—and ease of acquisition. Law enforcement has reported a staggering increase in the recovery of firearms equipped with these devices, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) seizing over 6,000 modified weapons in 2021 alone, a nearly 50% increase from the previous year.
Despite bipartisan agreement following the Las Vegas shooting, efforts to regulate these devices have faced significant hurdles. The Trump administration's attempt to ban bump stocks was overturned by the Supreme Court earlier this year, which ruled that the devices could not be classified as machine guns under the National Firearms Act. This decision has prompted calls for Congress to clarify the law to include bump stocks, but Senate Republicans have resisted proposed legislation, such as the Bump Act, aimed at banning these dangerous devices.
The meeting also highlighted the need for gun manufacturers to take responsibility for their products, urging them to implement measures that prevent their firearms from being easily converted into illegal machine guns. Additionally, officials emphasized the importance of increasing efforts to prevent the smuggling of Glock switches into the U.S. from foreign sources.
As gun violence continues to plague communities across America, officials reiterated the necessity for immediate action to address this crisis, stressing that the tools to combat it are available and must be utilized effectively.
The meeting revealed that conversion devices, including bump stocks and Glock switches, are increasingly prevalent on the streets. Glock switches, which can convert a semi-automatic handgun into an automatic weapon, are particularly concerning due to their low cost—often under $20—and ease of acquisition. Law enforcement has reported a staggering increase in the recovery of firearms equipped with these devices, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) seizing over 6,000 modified weapons in 2021 alone, a nearly 50% increase from the previous year.
Despite bipartisan agreement following the Las Vegas shooting, efforts to regulate these devices have faced significant hurdles. The Trump administration's attempt to ban bump stocks was overturned by the Supreme Court earlier this year, which ruled that the devices could not be classified as machine guns under the National Firearms Act. This decision has prompted calls for Congress to clarify the law to include bump stocks, but Senate Republicans have resisted proposed legislation, such as the Bump Act, aimed at banning these dangerous devices.
The meeting also highlighted the need for gun manufacturers to take responsibility for their products, urging them to implement measures that prevent their firearms from being easily converted into illegal machine guns. Additionally, officials emphasized the importance of increasing efforts to prevent the smuggling of Glock switches into the U.S. from foreign sources.
As gun violence continues to plague communities across America, officials reiterated the necessity for immediate action to address this crisis, stressing that the tools to combat it are available and must be utilized effectively.
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