Communities around the U.S. have seen shootings carried out with weapons converted to fully automatic in recent years, fueled by a staggering increase in small pieces of metal or plastic made with a 3D printer or ordered online. Laws against machine guns date back to the bloody violence of Prohibition-era gangsters. But the proliferation of devices known by nicknames such as Glock switches, auto sears and chips has allowed people to transform legal semi-automatic weapons into even more dangerous guns, helping fuel gun violence, police and federal authorities said.

The (ATF) reported a 570% increase in the number of conversion devices collected by police departments between 2017 and 2021, the most recent data available.

The devices that can convert legal semi-automatic weapons can be made on a 3D printer in about 35 minutes or ordered from overseas online for less than $30. They’re also quick to install.

“It takes two or three seconds to put in some of these devices into a firearm to make that firearm into a machine gun instantly,” Dettelbach said.

  • rottingleaf
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    3 months ago

    Not every defence device has these deficiencies.

    So which do you propose?

    Pepper spray can deal permanent damage to one’s sight and sense of smell, and affects everyone nearby.

    A shocker can kill a person with heart problems.

    A traumatic pistol may just not be enough, it’s like a device to punch a person in effect.

    A knife requires training and won’t help against a stronger attacker likely.

    • m0darn@lemmy.ca
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      3 months ago

      I didn’t mean to suggest that there was something without any of those drawbacks, so I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear about that.

      I’m not going to propose a one size fits all solution.

      But I think people should consider the situations they are most likely to find themselves in, and make considered decisions.

      I don’t think guns are likely to be the best choice very often.