On Monday, U.S. Attorneys for the Western, Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas announced the rollout of a new initiative to crack down on gun switches, a device that turns semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic weapons.
Operation Texas Kill Switch encourages local law enforcement to identify and investigate those in possession of gun switches, and also encourages citizens to report the possession or manufacturing of the devices, a third degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison.
Machine gun conversion devices are illegal through federal law, and officials continue to see an alarming increase in the number of devices on streets across Texas.
Between 2017 and 2023, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents seized 991 switches in Texas; 50% were seized just within the last year, said Robert Topper, assistant special agent in charge for the ATF.
The ATF does not track the data by county or city.
“It’s essential for us to work together — the ATF, U.S. Attorney’s Office, District Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement — to address this issue and protect our communities from the dangers of gun violence,” Topper said.
In San Antonio, firearms are often modified by adding switches or machine gun conversion devices once stolen from law abiding citizens, he said, providing “a ready supply to those who would seek … [to] sell them on the black market.”
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza said the initiative is a “comprehensive approach” to addressing the issue. Earlier Monday morning, the U.S. Attorneys of Texas published an op-ed in the Austin American-Statesman, urging local law enforcement to partner with the feds on switch cases.
“All four U.S. Attorneys across the state have decided that this is a growing problem. That new device is considered a machine gun and we are very fearful of what will happen if we don’t start addressing this problem,” Esparza said.
He added that gun switch cases are on the rise among juveniles.
Bexar County Criminal District Attorney Joe Gonzales told the San Antonio Report that Bexar County is actively cracking down on gun switch crimes to enhance public safety.
“The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting gun switch crimes under state law. While we cannot provide specific details about ongoing cases, we review all submitted cases individually. If we find sufficient evidence to prove a criminal case, we will prosecute,” he said in a statement.
