BEAUMONT, Texas – In a statewide crackdown, U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas announced ‘Operation Texas Kill Switch,’ a major initiative targeting illegal machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as ‘switches.’
The deadly devices can transform commercially available firearms into fully automatic weapons, capable of firing faster than military-grade M4s, posing an unacceptable risk to the public and law enforcement, according to U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
‘Machinegun conversion devices are incredibly dangerous and pose an unacceptable risk to the public and law enforcement,’ said U.S. Attorney Diggs. ‘They’re also illegal and simply possessing a machinegun conversion device—let alone firing one—comes along with a hefty prison sentence. As U.S. Attorney, I am committed to keeping them off the streets of the Eastern District of Texas.’
ATF Special Agents in Charge Jeffrey Boshek and Michael Weddel joined U.S. Attorneys at simultaneous press conferences throughout the state, highlighting the gravity of the threat posed by switches. ‘Today’s important initiative is aimed at raising awareness of illegal machinegun conversation devices also known as ‘switches,’” said ATF SAC Michael Weddel. “Today’s threat comes from machinegun conversion devices that easily convert a firearm into a machinegun. These ‘switches’ as they are often called on the streets, not only pose a serious threat to those living in our communities but a unique and deadly threat to law enforcement.’
About an inch long, switches may be made of metal or plastic and can be printed on commercially available 3D printers. They generally slot into the butt of a gun and allow the shooter to fire “full auto,” unloading dozens of rounds with a single pull of the trigger. To date, switches have been used in numerous fatal shootings, including at least one juvenile mass shooting and multiple police killings.
Except in very limited circumstances, possession of a switch is illegal, as the National Firearms Act classifies the switch itself as a machinegun. Yet the number of switches recovered by law enforcement has risen dramatically in the past few years. Between 2017 and 2023, Texas-based ATF agents seized 991 switches; 490 of those, 50 percent, were seized just last year. They are often sold over social media, marketed to adults and juveniles alike.
As part of Operation Texas Kill Switch, U.S. Attorneys are partnering with Crime Stopper programs statewide to combat the proliferation of these illegal devices. From now until Aug. 31, local Crime Stopper programs will offer cash rewards for information leading to the apprehension or prosecution of those who possess switches or 3D printers being used to manufacture them.
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