What Are Pistol Converters?
A pistol converter, commonly known as a "Glock switch" or "auto-sear," is a small device -- often no larger than a quarter -- that can be installed on the back of a semiautomatic pistol to convert it into a fully automatic weapon capable of emptying an entire magazine with a single pull of the trigger.[1] These devices are typically manufactured overseas and sold illegally online for as little as $20 to $40, making them widely accessible despite being illegal under both federal and New York state law.
Legislative Response
While New York's 2019 rapid-fire modification device ban under PL 265.01-c already covered devices that accelerate the rate of fire of semiautomatic firearms, the legislature took additional steps to explicitly address the growing threat of pistol converters through Senate Bill S9225, introduced by Senator Zellnor Myrie.[2]
S9225 was designed to regulate "pistol converters" and "convertible pistols" -- semiautomatic handguns whose design makes them susceptible to easy conversion to fully automatic fire. The bill explicitly brought pistol converters under the umbrella of the existing rapid-fire modification device prohibition.[3]
2024 and 2025 Legislation
In 2024, Governor Hochul signed a package of six gun safety bills that included provisions strengthening penalties for pistol converter possession and use. The legislation formally classified pistol converters (auto-sears) as a subset of rapid-fire modification devices, ensuring they fall under PL 265.01-c's prohibition.[4]
In April 2025, Governor Hochul signed three additional gun safety bills, including S.744/A.436, which further ensured criminal penalties for using pistol converters and rapid-fire modification devices.[5]
Current Penalties
Under the current statutory framework, penalties for pistol converters mirror those for other rapid-fire modification devices under PL 265.01-c:
- Possession: Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail[6]
- Manufacture, transport, or disposal: Class E felony under PL 265.10, punishable by up to four years in state prison
- Use in connection with another crime: Additional charges may apply, including criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (Class C violent felony) if the device is used with a loaded firearm
Industry Accountability
New York has also pursued a first-in-the-nation approach to holding firearm manufacturers accountable for the pistol converter problem. Legislation strengthened the state's firearm industry accountability law, requiring manufacturers to take affirmative steps to prevent their handguns from being easily converted to machine guns.[7] This approach targets the design features of certain handguns that make them particularly susceptible to conversion, rather than focusing exclusively on the conversion devices themselves.
Federal Overlap
Pistol converters are also illegal under federal law. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) classifies auto-sears as machine guns under the National Firearms Act, making their possession a federal felony carrying up to ten years in prison. New York's state-level prohibition operates independently of federal law, meaning an individual found with a pistol converter may face prosecution under both state and federal statutes simultaneously.[8]
The 2026 ATF reform package issued under Executive Order 14206 (April 29, 2026) leaves the federal machinegun ban under 18 U.S.C. 922(o) and the NFA classification of auto-sears intact.[9] Pistol converters and auto-sears remain federal machineguns subject to 922(o), and the post-1986 manufacture restriction continues to bar civilian acquisition. New York's independent criminal stack under PL 265.01-c -- a Class A misdemeanor for possession, a Class E felony for sale or transfer -- is unaffected by the federal package and continues to operate as a parallel charging tool.[10]