Full-auto switches keep showing up in the news, and they’re becoming a growing problem. As we saw with so-called ghost guns, it’s hard to ascertain the problem because the reports lack any meaningful context, but unlike homemade firearms, there’s no legal pathway for these devices at all. 

In short, based on gun control logic, there should be no way to get these devices. They’re illegal on the face of things, yet people get them with startling regularity.

The question on many minds is, how? How are street-level thugs getting their hands on something like that? They might blame the lawful gun trade, but the truth is that you and I can’t get a full-auto switch lawfully. Practically no one can.

The answer comes after a warning issued by Massachusetts officials regarding these things.

Law enforcement officials held a news conference in Massachusetts after an investigation seized over 350 website domains used to import illegal firearm components from China.

According to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), federal and state law enforcement authorities are warning the public about the dangers of these firearms components that are being bought illegally online. In a joint cyber investigation, a ring of Chinese websites illegally importing machine gun conversion devices and silencers to the United States was dismantled.

Over 700 devices were seized that could convert a firearm into a machine gun, 87 illegal suppressors, 59 handguns, and 36 long guns. HSI says possession of machine gun conversion devices and their importation from certain countries, including China, are prohibited under the National Firearms Act. 

…

“With a collective voice, we issue a stern warning about the illegal purchase, sale, possession and use of machine gun conversion devices. The prevalence and availability of these devices is a public safety threat, not only to our communities, but to those law enforcement officers sworn to protect them. Sadly, this is not solely a Massachusetts, or a New England problem, but a matter of national significance,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol from Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “To address this threat, we are using every tool and partnership in our arsenal, and we stand united in law enforcement alongside our local, state and federal prosecutors to ensure the safety and security of our communities.”

Yes, I find it amusing to see how China will talk about our gun rights as if restricting them is some kind of human rights imperative–as if they have room to talk about human rights at all–but will funnel these devices into our nation despite the laws against them.

Keep in mind that China has at least a stake in most companies operating out of their nation. Further, they maintain a much tighter control over their economy than the United States does. If they wanted to stop these devices from coming into the country, they would.

Of course, some of these came from other countries as well, apparently, though those nations weren’t named. Interesting.

Now, none of this should be illegal, in my opinion. I should be able to throw a full-auto switch on my Glock 19 and go about town like there’s nothing wrong because there shouldn’t be.

But that’s not what the law is here and now. 

And while some are trying to sue Glock because their design hasn’t radically changed to prevent people from doing something blatantly illegal and installing an illegally obtained device on it, maybe they should instead pull a Mexico and file a lawsuit against China for its role in this stuff.