LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Local and federal law enforcement agencies in Kentucky are supporting a House bill that would restrict the possession and use of switch attachments for guns.
The move comes with the introduction of House Bill 299, sponsored by Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, which would make possession of a machine gun conversion device a felony under state law.
“I filed HB 299 so local law enforcement can enforce the law that prohibits the alteration of a handgun, making a semi-automatic weapon into an automatic weapon," Nemes said in a statement. "These 'Glock switches' are dangerous and becoming more and more prevalent."
The switch attachments are commonly called "Glock switches," but Glock does not manufacture the switches and has no involvement with the production of the devices.
They easily transform semi-automatic handguns into machine guns.
ATF Special Agent in Charge (SAC) for Louisville's division John Nokes said the devices are often 3D printed and sold online. Printers that make the devices can be bought for as little as $200 and switches are often sold for $50.
Nokes said the device itself is considered a machine gun under federal law. When attached to a pistol, Glock or any other semi-automatic weapon, that weapon is also considered a machine gun.
With the attachments, regular handguns can fire as many as 17 rounds in 1.03 seconds. The devices can let off 30 rounds in 1.8 seconds.
Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey said the machine gun conversion devices are extremely dangerous, increase inaccuracy, and are much more advanced than weapons law enforcement use.
"The amount of rounds that these devices allow people to shoot is absolutely unconscionable," Humphrey said.
Federal law makes the possession or ownership of any machine gun manufactured after May 19, 1986, illegal and a federal felony.
Kentucky is one of two states that don't have state laws that restrict machine gun conversion devices.
According to Nokes, there were 492 switches seized in Kentucky by federal agents in 2025 and 110 seized at the local level.
Humphrey said without state legislation, local law enforcement officers have little defense against the weapons.
Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. clarified that local police and state police cannot legally confiscate guns using switch attachments unless there is another crime involved.
"Police officers have no authority to seize that weapon if there's no other crime associated with that," Burnett said. "Without the additional cause, the officer would have to let the firearm go."
Nokes said they don't have the manpower to assist local police in seizing switches or machine guns that people may be carrying.
Kentucky had the second most switches seized at the federal level last year.
There is some opposition to introducing state laws that regulate switches. Rep. TJ Roberts, R-Burlington, said the bill would impede on people's Second Amendment rights.
"I think our energy is better spent actually expanding this right to self-defense rather than further imposing restrictions that are already illegal at the federal level," Roberts said.
As a state, Kentucky voters traditionally strongly support gun rights, often opposing measures like permit-to-purchase requirements, background checks and other gun control laws that have been approved by some other states.
Kentucky state law also doesn't require people to register guns. State and federal law prohibit felons and certain domestic violence offenders from owning firearms.
Kentucky doesn’t mandate state-level universal background checks on all sales.
Humphrey acknowledged that it is harder for local police to manage the possession of switch attachments because Kentucky is an open carry state with looser gun laws than other states.
WDRB asked Humphrey if he thought there should be any additional gun laws introduced to better regulate guns.
Humphrey said they are focusing on issues they know they can get the best support for.
"We have had interactions with state legislators, and this is something we have some momentum behind, and we're going to take advantage of that while we can," Humphrey said.
House Bill 299 will be heard in committee next week. Nemes said he hopes the bill will be voted on in the next few weeks.
More Coverage:
Kentucky police urge ban on 'Glock switches' as incidents rise in Louisville
Greenberg releases agenda for Kentucky's upcoming legislative session
LMPD sees influx of illegal Glock switches on Louisville streets, advocates for state law
18-year-old indicted in Louisville for illegally possessing machine gun
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