Connecticut Chapters of Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Celebrate House Passage of Landmark Legislation to Stop the Spread of DIY Machine Guns

HARTFORD, CT - The Connecticut chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety's grassroots network, issued the following statements today celebrating the Connecticut House of Representatives' passage of HB 5043. With this vote, Connecticut is one step closer to becoming the third state in the nation to pass legislation that prohibits the future sale of semi-automatic handguns designed in a way that allows them to be easily converted into fully automatic machine guns using a "switch" or auto sear.

For years, it has been an open secret in the gun industry that certain manufacturers utilize semi-automatic pistol designs that can easily be converted into illegal machine guns with common household tools and a $25 switch. This new legislation is imperative in order to protect the public from handgun models that are easily converted to illegal machine guns. These models are easily modified into fully automatic weapons capable of firing at a rate of up to 1,200 rounds per minute or 20 rounds per second. With this measure, Connecticut is sending a clear message: if you refuse to take reasonable, common-sense steps to change the configuration of these pistols to prevent easy conversion, you will no longer profit from the Connecticut market.

More than 11,000 auto sears or machine gun conversion devices were recovered and traced between 2019 and 2023-a 784 percent increase from 2019 to 2023. Thirty-one were recovered and traced in Connecticut in 2023.

"Today, Connecticut leaders chose the safety of our families over the interests of the gun lobby," said Alissa Dumont, a volunteer with the Connecticut chapter of Moms Demand Action. "Machine guns have been illegal for decades, yet certain manufacturers continue to sell pistols they know can be turned into weapons of war with a $25 piece of plastic. By passing this bill, the House is telling the gun industry that so long as they refuse to fix these dangerous designs to prevent easy conversion, they can no longer profit at the expense of our lives. We look forward to the Senate swiftly passing this bill to make Connecticut the third state to lead on this issue and put pressure on these manufacturers to address this threat."

"After the tragedy at Sandy Hook, Connecticut leaders stepped up and made our state a national leader in gun safety-but we cannot afford to rest on that legacy while new threats emerge," said Audrey Nichols, a volunteer with the University of Connecticut group of Students Demand Action. "To keep our communities safe, our leaders must continue to modernize our gun laws, including by addressing the threat of DIY machine guns. This bill is a clear signal that Connecticut will continue to lead by ensuring our streets aren't flooded with handguns that can be turned into automatic weapons in seconds."

What the Bill Does

• Stops the sale of easily convertible pistols, requiring future handgun models sold in Connecticut to be designed so they cannot easily accept a machine gun conversion device.
• Creates a basic safety standard for manufacturers. If a handgun can be easily converted into a machine gun, it cannot be sold to civilians in Connecticut.
• Addresses a growing threat to communities and law enforcement officers. Pistols converted into machine guns increase the deadliness and harm caused by shootings, and preventing the future sale of these dangerous, easily converted pistols protects bystanders and law enforcement.

What the Bill Does Not Do

• Does NOT ban possession of any guns or require anyone to give up any of the firearms they currently own.
• Does NOT affect law enforcement or the military. Sales for official duties are exempt.