Pennsylvania Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Protect Communities from Machine Gun Conversion Devices

SB 1449 Will Keep Communities, Law Enforcement Safe by Banning Glock Switches and Other Machine Gun Conversion Devices, Aligning Pennsylvania with 29 Other States

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots network, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements following the introduction of SB 1449 by Senator Christine Tartaglione to ban Glock switches and other conversion devices. Glock switches are small, Lego-sized devices that can be 3D-printed or purchased online for around $25, easily converting a standard handgun into an automatic machine gun capable of firing up to 1,200 rounds per minute.

"This is a simple issue. Machine guns capable of automatic fire have a destructive potential far beyond any reason to own them and have long been banned at the federal level. The same prohibition should therefore apply to devices that enable a handgun to shoot automatically. It's common sense for protecting both our community and law enforcement," said Senator Christine Tartaglione.

"When states across the country - including deep-red states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee - have already taken action to eliminate this threat, Pennsylvania cannot lag behind," said Monisha Henley, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Everytown for Gun Safety. "Senator Tartaglione's legislation gives Pennsylvania a clear path to close a dangerous gap in state gun laws, align with federal standards, and ensure local law enforcement isn't left outgunned. We urge the General Assembly to pass this lifesaving legislation and keep communities safe from illegal weapons."

"This is not a partisan issue. It is a matter of basic public safety, and ensuring our kids are safe in our communities," said Jessica Scott, a volunteer with the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action. "No parent should have to worry about an ordinary handgun being turned into a machine gun that can spray dozens of bullets into a crowd in seconds. Passing a comprehensive state-level ban will ensure law enforcement is equipped to confront this crisis directly, clear these dangerous devices from our streets, and protect our families from horrific gun violence."

The threat posed by conversion devices has escalated dramatically across the nation and within Pennsylvania. According to data from the ATF, national law enforcement recoveries of machine gun conversion devices skyrocketed by 784 percent between 2019 and 2023, with 148 conversion devices recovered in Pennsylvania in 2023 alone. Because these converted weapons spray bullets uncontrollably, their presence has led to devastating violent incidents in communities across the state, including mass shootings in Philadelphia and Norristown and armed standoffs in Reading and Harrisburg.

While machine guns themselves are illegal under Pennsylvania law, the absence of an explicit state ban on conversion devices creates a glaring loophole. Currently, state law enforcement face a major hurdle where they cannot arrest or prosecute individuals for possessing a switch under state statute, leaving communities entirely dependent on federal enforcement. SB 1449 closes this gap by bringing Pennsylvania in line with federal law and providing local authorities with the state-level tools needed to stop the influx of switches into the Commonwealth.

29 states have already enacted measures prohibiting conversion devices like Glock switches, including states like Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Closing this dangerous loophole is supported by public safety leaders across the state, including the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, and leadership from the Pennsylvania State Police, who are calling on lawmakers to give local authorities the tools needed to keep Pennsylvanians safe.