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Cook County board urges state lawmakers to ban small devices that convert pistols into machine guns
Summary
The Cook County Board voted to endorse Illinois Senate Bill 2801 and House Bill 4471, urging manufacturers and the General Assembly to prevent small "switch" devices that can convert semi‑automatic pistols into automatic weapons.
The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a resolution urging the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation that would prevent small devices often called “switches” from converting semiautomatic pistols into fully automatic weapons.
Commissioner Lawrie, who sponsored the resolution, told the board the devices can transform a concealable firearm into one capable of firing up to 1,200 rounds per minute and described the measure as a prevention step aimed at public safety. “These are not hypothetical threats,” he said, calling for “industry responsibility” and faster legislative action.
Speakers during the public‑comment period reinforced the board’s action. Dan Dwyer, a gun‑violence survivor representing Moms Demand Action, urged support for House Bill 4471 and described how inexpensive, small devices make conversions possible. Kathleen Sanches, president and CEO of the Gun Violence Prevention PAC of Illinois, cited Everytown data on recovered switches and asked the board to press the General Assembly to hold manufacturers accountable.
The resolution specifically referenced two state measures, SB2801 and HB4471, and the board’s approval was framed as a non‑binding call to the General Assembly to move those bills forward. The vote was taken by voice and the measure carried.
Next steps: the resolution will be transmitted to state lawmakers as a statement of Cook County’s policy position; the board did not enact local regulation in this meeting.
