(The Center Square) – A proposed Illinois measure aimed at handguns that can be modified for automatic fire is drawing criticism from gun rights advocates who say the legislation would do little to curb violent crime while restricting lawful gun owners.
Supporters say the bill targets devices known as “Glock switches” that can convert a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic firearm. But Guns Save Life Executive Director John Boch said the proposal effectively singles out firearms made by Glock, one of the most widely owned handgun brands.
“There’s only a handful of handgun models that can be modified with one of these devices. Glock is the preeminent one,” Boch told The Center Square. “Criminals like them for the same reason that good guys like them, because they’re effective tools, not because they have some sort of design flaw that needs fixing by politicians.”
The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, could not be reached for comment.
Critics say the legislation would ban the sale or transfer of certain handguns capable of accepting the devices, including private sales, significantly reducing the resale value of firearms already owned by Illinois residents, according to Boch.
“You couldn’t sell them privately. Stores couldn’t sell them,” Boch said. “It would bring their value effectively down to next to nothing for everyday Americans.”
Boch said the measure could be viewed as a de facto handgun ban because of how common the affected models are in the marketplace.
Boch argued additional restrictions would do little to address violent crime, particularly in large cities like Chicago
“Banning private sales of existing Glocks is not going to fix the problem any more than the [Protect Illinois Communities Act] PICA Act didn’t solve Chicago’s crime problem,” he said.
While Boch said he personally has never encountered a conversion device despite working closely with firearms, he acknowledged that law enforcement in Chicago reports recovering them more frequently.
“In Chicago in particular, police pick up a dozen or more a day,” Boch said. “It’s become a status symbol among gang members to have a Glock with a switch on it.”
Supporters of the legislation say the growing presence of handgun conversion devices poses a significant public safety risk because they allow small, concealable firearms to fire rapidly.
The bill is one of several firearm-related proposals introduced in Springfield this session as lawmakers continue to debate how to address gun violence in Illinois.
If passed, the measure could face legal challenges from gun rights organizations, similar to lawsuits filed over previous state gun regulations.
