Switches, also known as auto sears, were specifically designed to slot into the back of Glock handguns, effectively turning them into machine guns. Over the past decade, Glocks outfitted with switches have increasingly turned up at crime scenes. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reported last year that it had recovered more than 5,400 switches and other conversion devices between 2017 and 2021 — a 570% increase from the preceding five years, The Trace reports. Glock is one of America’s most popular brands of handguns, but the proliferation of switches has put pressure on the company to overhaul its products. The city of Chicago is pursuing a lawsuit demanding that Glock alter its handguns to resist switches, accusing the gunmaker of jeopardizing public safety. Thirteen state attorneys general have signaled their intention to file similar suits.
Jorge Leon, who invented the switch, said Glock needs to change its designs to address the proliferation of machine gun violence in a meaningful way. “Glock created this problem,” he said. “The switch is a consequence.” In most striker-fired guns, the trigger is connected to the sear by several different components working in unison like the gears in a machine. But in a Glock, the sear is connected directly to the trigger — it’s all one part. This means that as long as the trigger is being squeezed, the sear will remain in reach of the switch, enabling continuous fire. Glocks, like many striker-fired guns, have a removable backplate for easy access to internal parts. The switch was designed to replace this backplate. Experts suggest various fixes, such as making a non-removable backplate, which would prevent switch installation but complicate cleaning undercutting some of the gun’s chief selling points.. Another approach would involve redesigning the gun’s internals to prevent switches from disabling the sear, though this would require significant costs.
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