ATF reports 570% more Glock switches found at crime scenes

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – Gun conversion devices, or gun switches, have grown in popularity in recent years and continue to be a concern for law enforcement.

These are small devices that are attached to the back of a weapon. With one pull of the trigger, all ammunition in the magazine can be released.

“These are generally printed in less than five minutes, you can get one printed out,” said Special Agent Benjamin Gibbons of the ATF Atlanta Division.

Glock switches, as they are commonly called, are a small but extremely deadly device.

They are shipped from China or 3D printed.

“It is extremely dangerous. This is a public safety issue,” said Special Agent Gibbons.

In recent weeks, a Waycross Georgia man, James Timothy Johnson, was sentenced to 20 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for this very reason. A grand jury found him guilty of knowingly possessing a machine gun by having a conversion device – a so-called Glock switch.

“In Georgia they've been increasing in the last probably five, six years, here in the last three years they've started,” said Special Agent Gibbons.

Data shows that the number of law enforcement agencies finding machine gun-conversion weapons at crime scenes has increased by 570% nationwide.

A recent report from ATF shows that 814 of them were seized between 2012 and 2016, but between 2017 and 2021 that number increased to over 5,400.

“In less than 30 seconds, they give the person the ability to hold a machine gun directly in their hand,” said Special Agent Gibbons.

Special Agent Gibbons said law enforcement could easily determine whether a switch was used in a shooting based on the amount of shell casings at a crime scene. The most dangerous part is often that bullets can hit “unintended” targets or people.

“My biggest fear is that they will be used in public places, schools, etc.,” said Special Agent Gibbons.

Agents continue to try to keep them out of people's hands. Under federal law, it is illegal to possess one of these devices, even if it is not attached to a weapon itself.

“It allows the person committing the violent crime to have a lot of firepower at a distance, but not only that, they have no control over the firearm.” So you're firing a lot of bullets, and because of the nature of the switch on that firearm “Innocent people can be injured and killed,” said Special Agent Gibbons.

ATF agents have provided training for state, local and federal investigators on identifying these devices at crime scenes to prevent more of them from entering the community.

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