Illinois Lawmakers Push Gun Redesign Mandate Over ‘Switch’ Conversion Threat
Illinois lawmakers are advancing a bill that could force gun manufacturers to redesign popular pistols, targeting weapons that can be converted into automatic fire.
The proposal is raising new questions about how far states can go in regulating not just gun ownership, but gun engineering itself.
According to WTTW and WAND-TV, the legislation would prohibit the future sale of semi-automatic handguns that can be easily modified using illegal “switches,” small devices that convert firearms into machine guns. Lawmakers say these devices are increasingly showing up at crime scenes across Illinois.
But the bill creates a new pressure point by shifting responsibility toward manufacturers, not just users, effectively requiring safer designs to prevent conversion.
“This bill would nudge the gun industry to innovate toward safety,” said State Rep. Justin Slaughter.
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The stakes go beyond Illinois, as similar efforts emerge nationwide targeting the intersection of gun design and modification.
Supporters argue the move addresses a growing trend, noting Chicago police recovered more than 1,600 conversion devices in recent years, while modified pistols can fire at rates comparable to military weapons.
Opponents counter that criminals will still find ways to modify firearms, warning the law could impact widely owned handguns without reducing violence.
The bill remains under consideration in Springfield, with lawmakers expected to revisit it before the legislative session deadline.
For now, the outcome could signal a broader shift in how states regulate the future of gun technology.
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