Police see rise in handgun switches amid new legislation

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — A device that changes a semi-automatic handgun into fully automatic is now considered illegal in the state of Indiana.

It's widely known as a "switch" and once the legislation was signed, it was effective immediately.

Law enforcement officials are seeing these switches everywhere.

Whether it's here in South Bend, St. Joseph County or elsewhere in the state, officials say these switches are becoming easier to come by within the last few years.

But education and legislation are both ways to curb the usage of these very powerful devices.

South Bend Police chief Scott Ruszkowski says the department has already collected six switches this year.

“And this is specifically, these are made for Glock models. There are other models, there are even rifles that have either blocks or these similar type devices that make them full auto,” said Chief Scott Ruszkowski, South Bend Police Department.

The switch only takes seconds to install, and bumps against the firing pin, so the rounds keep cycling.

Chief Ruszkowski says they've had magazines with 15-to-100 rounds that will keep rapid firing with a switch.

That literally is a disaster waiting to happen, there’s no way you’re going to be justifying why you would have one of these. It is nothing more than an offensive weapon. You were going out to hurt somebody or do a lot of damage,” said Ruszkowski.

According to Sgt. Ted Bohner with Indiana State Police, the new legislation, signed by the governor at the end of April, gives absolute clarity that these devices are prohibited under state law.

“It becomes a good tool for law-enforcement across the state, as well as the prosecutor’s office, that they can be prosecuting on the state level instead of awaiting potential federal prosecution,” said Bohner.

Over the last year, Sgt. Kyle Shiparski with the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office says the vast majority of their firearm related investigations involve switches.

He says this legislation gives law enforcement more of a backbone.

To A, make arrests on people who are simply in possession of these devices, but then B, Start using these to try to identify where these things are coming from. 20:31 and who’s responsible for distributing,” said Shiparski.

If you’re privately buying a handgun, Sgt. Shiparski warns the public to know what you’re buying and who you’re buying from.

If a switch is in the gun, you could still be held accountable for the device, even if you didn’t know it was there.