Local news- Press Release
Bexar County Texas - Bexar County DA cracking down on illegal devices that make pistols automatic weapons 03 June 2022 ( news )
Bexar County , state Texas ( By Press Release office)
Jun 03,2022
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Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales is encouraging law enforcement officers to file criminal cases against people who have “switches” to make their legal firearms into fully automatic weapons .
In Bexar County , officers often come across Glock’s line of pistols . The base or slide plate of a Glock 9mm pistol from the factory is only capable of firing one shot every time the trigger is pulled . More often , local , state and federal officers are finding these legal handguns have been converted to fully automatic machine guns with a “Glock switch” or “auto sear” device .
Once a “Glock switch” is installed , the pistol effectively turns into a fully automatic machine gun capable of emptying an entire magazine in just a few seconds . Commonly available 3D printers can also make these switches out of metal or polymer .
“This tiny attachment is capable of causing death and destruction in the blink of an eye . The only purpose of adding these switches is to turn the pistol into an illegal machine gun . As a gun owner , there is no legitimate reason for anyone to have one of these , ” said Gonzales .
Anyone caught with one of these devices installed can be charged with possession of a prohibited firearm – machine gun , a third degree felony punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison . If law enforcement finds someone in possession of these switches , that person may be charged with unlawful use of a criminal instrument . If convicted , the offender could face up to two years in a state jail facility .
Beginning Monday , every Bexar County prosecutor will file a motion with the court to destroy all firearms seized in unlawful weapon possession cases as well as those cases in which a firearm was used to commit a crime .
“As long as our lawmakers refuse to change the laws to make us safe , we will work to prevent these guns from being able to harm Bexar County residents , ” said Gonzales .
DA Gonzales joined Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff , U . S . Congressman Joaquin Castro , Commissioners Rebeca Clay - Flores and Justin Rodriguez , Sheriff Javier Salazar , University Hospital trauma surgeon Ronald Stewart and San Antonio Moms Demand Action in a call for state and federal lawmakers to raise the age to purchase guns from 18 to 21; require universal background checks for all gun purchases; and to pass red flag laws allowing a judge to temporarily remove firearms from people who are considered an imminent threat to themselves or others .
“One thing we know for sure: the failures of our Legislature and Congress to take action on these issues have not stopped mass shootings from happening nearly every day . The lawmakers have the research so it should not be difficult for them to start with the changes the majority of Americans want , ” Gonzales said .
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