Republicans Siding with Anti-Gun Democrats to Ban “Machine Gun Conversion Devices”

I am disappointed to report that some PA Senate Republicans are siding with anti-gun Democrats to ban so-called “Glock switches.”

To refresh your memory, “Glock switches” are designed to modify a Glock handgun to convert it to full-auto fire.

If you don’t know, “Glock switches” are regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA). They are considered machine guns under federal law and are illegal to possess. Moreover, they are already prohibited in Pennsylvania under 18 Pa.C.S. §908 and classified as “offensive weapons.”

This ill-conceived effort to make “Glock switches” triply illegal is driven by the anti-gun Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association. The Association has openly pressed for legislation to ban “Glock switches,” and some of their members have written editorials calling for Red Flag Gun Confiscation Orders.

Friend, I fully expect Democrats to push anti-gun legislation—Senator Tartaglione (D-2) has already circulated a co-sponsorship memo to ban so-called “machine gun conversion devices.” What’s more troubling is that Republicans now appear to be caving to pressure from the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and Philadelphia Democrats to advance gun control measures.

And this isn’t the first time Republicans have targeted “Glock switches.” In the last session, then–Rep. Barry Jozwiak (R-5) tried to push a ban on “machine gun conversion devices.” But thanks to fierce opposition from GOA members and supporters, the proposal was stopped before it ever saw the light of day.

You and I both know that criminals do not respect gun control laws. Efforts to make “Glock switches” triply illegal are nothing more than virtue-signaling and will do absolutely nothing to prevent evil people from committing crimes.

Worse yet, these anti-gun bills undermine GOA’s fight to repeal the unconstitutional National Firearms Act. Instead of pushing more gun control, Pennsylvania Senate Republicans should be working to end state-level bans on automatic weapons—rather than fueling the fear and paranoia peddled by Michael Bloomberg.

That’s why I need you to send a message to your state senator, by using the form above. Let them know that the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association doesn’t speak for you and that you expect them to oppose any efforts to ban “machine gun conversion devices.” And while you are at it, remind your state senator that we elected them to pass Constitutional Carry (SB 357) and to strengthen Pennsylvania’s firearms preemption laws (SB 822).