Federal investigators tracking trend of ‘switches’ being purchased and shipped from overseas

More and more dangerous and deadly devices that transform guns into fully automatic weapons are purchased and shipped in from overseas.

Federal agents tracking this trend also say these ‘machinegun conversion devices’ are becoming more sophisticated and sturdier.  

Also known as ‘switches’ or ‘auto sears, ‘ the devices turn guns from semi-to-fully automatic weapons. They’re no bigger than a quarter and can allow a gun to fire as many as 15 rounds in two seconds. Possessing one is considered a federal crime.

Federal investigators are tracking packages arriving from overseas that contain these devices. 

“I would say, you know, on a monthly basis,” Joshua Brenner, assistant special agent in charge for St. Paul’s Homeland Security Investigations, said about the frequency of those illegal parcels. 

“We’re uniqu...