Full-auto switches seem to be a growing problem on our streets, and an actual problem. It’s not an alternative source for something they’ve been getting all along, but something new and terrifying. While we may not be able to really contextualize the issue, we’ve seen enough to know that these things are out there and in the wrong hands.
But we couldn’t have a rifle with the barrel a smidge too short before this year. Go figure.
Anywho, a number of states have created laws to ban the devices, even though they’re already banned at the federal level. This lets state and local officials prosecute people for making or having them, without worrying about the feds. Pennsylvania is working to follow suit, and Gun Owners of America is less than thrilled by this.
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.
They’re calling on Pennsylvanians to use a form at the above link to urge lawmakers not to go down this road.
And I agree.
Look, I understand just where these lawmakers are coming from. In their mind, since it’s already banned at the federal level, there’s no harm in banning it at the state level, but it does let state and local prosecutors step in without worrying about whether the feds are even going to pay attention. I totally get that.
But what GOA says above is correct. It doesn’t actually do anything, especially since the feds seem to be willing to prosecute these crimes. The ATF almost revels in writing up charges for local arrests and claiming credit for them, after all, so it doesn’t seem to be an issue. It’s nothing but virtue signalling.
And if we ever can repeal the NFA, what then? These devices would be legal at the federal level, but state law in these places would prohibit them, thus making lawful ownership illegal while the criminals are still getting them. How does that make any sense?
The short answer is that it doesn’t. It makes no sense at all.
While this wouldn’t be the worst defeat we could imagine under the circumstances, it’s damn sure not a step forward, either, and that’s all we should settle for in this day and age.
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