In the last several years, a proliferation of tiny pieces of plastic and metal is fueling a spike in semi-automatic handguns converted to fully automatic fire.

Communities around the U.S. have seen shootings carried out with weapons converted to fully automatic in recent years, fueled by a staggering increase in small pieces of metal or plastic made with a 3D printer or ordered online. Laws against machine guns date back to the bloody violence of Prohibition-era gangsters. But the proliferation of devices known by nicknames such as Glock switches, auto sears and chips has allowed people to transform legal semi-automatic weapons into even more dangerous guns, helping fuel gun violence, police and federal authorities said.

The (ATF) reported a 570% increase in the number of conversion devices collected by police departments between 2017 and 2021, the most recent data available.

The devices that can convert legal semi-automatic weapons can be made on a 3D printer in about 35 minutes or ordered from overseas online for less than $30. They’re also quick to install.

“It takes two or three seconds to put in some of these devices into a firearm to make that firearm into a machine gun instantly,” Dettelbach said.

  • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    0·
    8 months ago

    And by that same coin some Warren or Pelosi can claim the opposite, just because the cdc itself can’t advocate using the data doesn’t mean others can’t.

    The NRA is a federal agency? So Wayne LaPierre is a government official now? News to me. Seems to me they aren’t, but are in fact a real world example of a non-governmental entity affecting politics, which is supposedly not possible according to your refutation of me saying there are other groups that are allowed to push an agenda.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
      0·
      8 months ago

      And by that same coin some Warren or Pelosi can claim the opposite

      That’s not an argument in favor of censoring the CDC. Two lies do not get us closer to the truth

        • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
          0·
          8 months ago

          Point is, they can study, just not advocate

          Which becomes a problem when it comes time to author functional administrative policy

          • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
            0·
            8 months ago

            May I remind you of the subject at hand?

            https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/8603867

            Again, despite your feelings on the matter, the common misconception that the Dickey Amendment prevents the CDC from studying gun violence is just that, a misconception, as they in fact can study gun violence, they just can’t advocate for gun control.

            • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
              0·
              8 months ago

              the common misconception that the Dickey Amendment prevents the CDC from studying gun violence

              They’re unable to write the “Conclusion” section of their research reports.