Full-auto switches, sometimes called "Glock switches" or "machine gun conversion devices," are illegal under federal law. They were illegal before they were ever invented, and since they were a post-1986 product, only a small handful of them are in private hands, and they're not something most private hands can ever get, even with all the money in the world.
But a 19-year-old man in Jacksonville, Florida, had no problems at all.
No, he had dozens of the little suckers.
Just not legally.
A 19-year-old Jacksonville man is facing federal charges after investigators said he created machine-gun conversion devices, commonly called “Glock switches,” with a 3D printer and then sold them to an undercover agent.
According to a federal criminal complaint filed Sept. 3 in the Middle District of Florida, ATF agents allege that Emani Rey Justavino sold four 3D-printed devices for $200, then sold 50 more for $300 during an undercover operation on Aug. 18 and 19.
Justavino faces allegations of illegally possessing machine guns and possessing firearms not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Agents said the devices Justavino allegedly made with his 3D printer were designed to convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons and were not serialized or registered. Investigators also allege Justavino discussed selling a Glock pistol and other firearms.
According to the federal criminal complaint, the investigation began after an ATF task force officer learned that a person identified as “J.B.J.” was advertising “Glock switches” on Instagram.
That's just weapons-grade stupid.
It's bad enough you're blatantly selling something that everyone knows is illegal, even if the laws are absolutely unconstitutional, but you're also selling them on Instagram?
Why not rent a billboard next to the local ATF field office while you're at it? Do it complete with a QR code that sends them your address so they could make it over there and arrest you before lunch.
Holy freaking Ash Williams with a nuclear-powered boomstick, that was dumb.
But it shouldn't be.
In an ideal world, anyone could print these out, sell them on social media, and anyone could buy them. It wouldn't matter because there would be no law against it.
Justavino is charged with violating the law in question, which means it clearly didn't deter him, but it does mean I don't get to have one. A lot of us here at Bearing Arms carry Glocks or similar firearms, and we might want such a thing. I don't, personally, because I can miss my shots just fine in semi-auto. I don't need to waste the ammo in full.
But I should have the choice.
Unfortunately, we don't. We either follow the law or risk winning stupid prizes for playing stupid games. We don't have to like it or agree with it, but unless you want to break out in handcuffs, you do what you've got to do or, at least, you keep your mouth shut about what you're doing.
Don't advertise your illegal devices on Instagram, and don't post your stolen goods on Facebook.
For law enforcement, stupid criminals are a glorious thing. For the rest of us, it's quality entertainment, even if we don't think the law they broke should be a law.
After all, there's just something about these people that makes you wonder how they think they're the ones who will get away with it. Then again, there's a good chance he did get away with it for quite a while.
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