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Committee amends bill to ban unlawfully obtained weapon conversion devices, targets Glock switches
Summary
Law enforcement and district attorneys told the House Judiciary Committee that Glock switches and similar conversion devices are proliferating; the committee adopted a narrower amendment to align state law with federal machine‑gun definitions and approved an amended bill to be rolled into public‑safety consideration.
The House Judiciary Committee on Friday considered House Bill 38, a measure to criminalize unlawful possession, transport or sale of weapon conversion devices — items that can be attached to a semi‑automatic firearm to create fully automatic fire.
Sponsor Rep. Kates and law‑enforcement witnesses said the intent is narrow and targeted. Rob Hart, director of the Governor’s Organized Crime Commission and a deputy district attorney, told the panel: “This really is just supposed to be going after Glock switches. That is it.” Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Storey, one of the witnesses, told the panel, “Gun conversion devices are rampant currently in the state of New Mexico.”
What the amendment and bill change
The committee adopted a drafting amendment that narrows the scope of the state offense so it focuses on unlawfully obtained conversion devices and aligns the statutory definition with federal machine‑gun definitions and recent federal case law. The amendment adds wording so the prohibited device is an “unlawfully obtained weapon conversion device,” clarifies language about how the device functions and mirrors federal interpretation of “automatically” firing and “function of the trigger.” Advocates and industry representatives who worked on language told the panel the changes narrow ambiguity about lawful ownership of pre‑existing, federally registered machine guns.
Why sponsors say state law is needed
Witnesses said federal authorities have limited capacity to prosecute every instance and that state police and prosecutors lack authority to enforce aspects of federal law in routine patrol encounters. Chief Storey described cases in which officers encountered multiple conversion devices in vehicles but could not seize them absent federal task‑force involvement; he said that leaves potentially dangerous devices circulating in communities.
Support and opposition
Supporters included local law enforcement, the New Mexico District Attorneys Association, New Mexico State Police and groups that advocate for gun violence prevention. Several shooting‑sports and firearms industry groups said they had participated in drafting the amendment and withdrew opposition after changes were made to limit the law’s reach to unlawfully obtained conversion devices.
Opposition testimony focused on wording and the potential to sweep lawful owners into criminal liability. Industry witnesses urged language that tracks federal law and excludes devices lawfully registered and possessed under the National Firearms Act.
Committee outcome
Committee members adopted the drafting amendment and the sponsor said the bill will be rolled into the public‑safety package for further consideration; the amendment was adopted with no recorded opposition during committee discussion. The bill’s text, as amended, targets Glock switches and similar conversion parts while excluding devices lawfully obtained and registered under federal law.
Ending
Sponsors said the state law is intended as a narrow, surgical fix to give state and local law enforcement an enforcement option where federal prosecutors are unable to take each case. The committee’s action moves the amended bill forward as a potential component of a larger public‑safety package.
