“Glock switches,” small devices that can transform nearly any handgun into a machine gun, are being increasingly discovered among firearms confiscated in the Phoenix region, as reported by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur proactive investigations, whether undercover or historical, are consistently revealing these machine gun conversion devices,\u201d stated Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber.<\/p>\n
Iber elaborated that these switches, which are approximately the size of a quarter and constructed from either metal or plastic, have become more accessible due to advancements in 3-D printing and the ease of online purchasing.<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially over the past five years, these devices have become readily available,\u201d Iber noted. \u201cDepending on the speed of your 3D printer, producing one of these machine gun conversion devices typically takes about 40 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Iber observed that the prevalence of these devices has increased among youth in recent years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s alarming because we are witnessing younger individuals being implicated in violent offenses,\u201d Iber remarked.<\/p>\n
Alongside local police departments, the bureau is working to track down the origins of Glock switches and is also collaborating with libraries and educational institutions to educate the public about the dangers associated with the potential misuse of 3D printers to create these devices.<\/p>\n
According to Arizona law, these devices are deemed illegal when they are affixed to a firearm, while federal regulations make the possession of such devices unlawful, irrespective of whether they are attached, carrying penalties of up to a decade in prison.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n