Connecticut House Bans Glock Conversion Switches That Enable Fully Automatic Fire

Lawmakers in Hartford voted Thursday to outlaw a small accessory known as a Glock conversion switch. When installed, the switch allows a semi‑automatic pistol to fire continuously while the trigger is held, producing rates above 1,000 rounds per minute. The bill targets the sale of these switches, not the pistols themselves.

The legislation bans any pistol that can be converted to exceed 1,000 rounds per minute, classifying such conversions as fully automatic weapons. It will take effect on October 1 and applies only to new switches; owners who already possess one may keep it under a grandfather clause. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. Matt Strasser, vice president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, noted that despite millions of firearms in the state, only about fifty arrests each year involve illegal conversions, meaning roughly ninety‑nine percent of gun owners comply with existing law.

Supporters argue the ban closes a loophole that enables rapid‑fire violence without affecting the majority of law‑abiding owners. Opponents contend it penalizes a legal product based on potential misuse and could face legal challenges. The grandfather provision means existing switches remain legal, limiting immediate impact on current owners.