Connecticut Chapters of Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Applaud Senate Passage of Landmark Legislation to Stop the Spread of DIY Machine Guns

HARTFORD, CT - The Connecticut chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety's grassroots network, issued the following statements today celebrating the Connecticut State Senate's passage of HB 5043. With this vote, Connecticut is one step closer to becoming the third state in the nation to enact legislation that prohibits the future sale of semi-automatic handguns designed in a way that allows them to be easily converted into fully automatic machine guns using a "switch" or auto sear.

For years, it has been an open secret in the gun industry that certain manufacturers utilize semi-automatic pistol designs that can easily be converted into illegal machine guns with common household tools and a $25 switch. This new legislation is imperative in order to protect the public from handgun models that are easily converted to illegal machine guns. These models are easily modified into fully automatic weapons capable of firing at a rate of up to 1,200 rounds per minute or 20 rounds per second. With this measure, Connecticut is sending a clear message: if you refuse to take reasonable, common-sense steps to change the configuration of these pistols to prevent easy conversion, you will no longer profit from the Connecticut market.

More than 11,000 auto sears or machine gun conversion devices were recovered and traced between 2019 and 2023-a 784 percent increase from 2019 to 2023. Thirty-one were recovered and traced in Connecticut in 2023.

"Today, Connecticut made history by refusing to let the gun industry profit from designs they know can easily be turned into weapons of war. By passing this legislation, the Senate has closed a dangerous loophole that allows DIY machine guns to flood our streets," said Alissa Dumont, a volunteer with the Connecticut chapter of Moms Demand Action. "Connecticut has sent a clear message to the gun industry: if you won't take common-sense steps to ensure your pistols can't easily be turned into a machine gun capable of firing at a rate of up to 1,200 rounds per minute with a $25 switch and a screwdriver, then you have no place in our state's market. Our state is setting a landmark new standard that puts public safety above profits."

"Our generation is tired of living in the shadow of emerging threats like DIY machine guns. After the tragedy at Sandy Hook, Connecticut promised to lead on gun safety, and today's Senate vote proves that our leaders are still committed to that promise," said Audrey Nichols, a volunteer with the University of Connecticut group of Students Demand Action. "We cannot allow our streets to be flooded with handguns that can be turned into automatic weapons in seconds. This bill modernizes our law to meet the reality of the 21st-century gun violence crisis, and we are grateful to the Senators who chose our safety over the gun industry's bottom line."

What the Bill Does

• Stops the sale of easily convertible pistols, requiring future handgun models sold in Connecticut to be designed so they cannot easily accept a machine gun conversion device.
• Creates a basic safety standard for manufacturers. If a handgun can be easily converted into a machine gun, it cannot be sold to civilians in Connecticut.
• Addresses a growing threat to communities and law enforcement officers. Pistols converted into machine guns increase the deadliness and harm caused by shootings, and preventing the future sale of these dangerous, easily converted pistols protects bystanders and law enforcement.

What the Bill Does Not Do

• Does NOT ban possession of any guns or require anyone to give up any of the firearms they currently own.
• Does NOT prohibit sales of these guns between private parties.
• Does NOT affect law enforcement or the military. Sales for official duties are exempt.