Cook County Passes Resolution Urging Illinois Legislature to Crack Down on DIY Machine Guns

As Cook County Leaders Take Action to Protect Residents, Illinois Legislature Gun Violence Prevention Caucus Continues to Stall Critical Legislation with Only Days Left in Session

CHICAGO — Yesterday, the Cook County Board passed a resolution urging the Illinois legislature to advance HB 4471/SB 2801, legislation to stop the sale of handguns that can be easily converted into illegal machine guns using small, inexpensive devices known as “switches.” The resolution passage comes as Illinois lawmakers — including members of the House Gun Violence Prevention Caucus — continue to delay action on the legislation despite mounting evidence that DIY machine guns are fueling shootings across the state.

DIY machine guns are an escalating threat in Illinois and across the country. More than 1,300 Glock handguns modified into machine guns were recovered by Chicago police between 2021 and May 2024, and Chicago has seen a 15-fold increase in switch recoveries between 2019 and 2024, with nearly half tied to shootings. Hundreds of people in Cook County alone have been charged with possessing or selling switches.

“Cook County leaders recognized what communities across Illinois already know: DIY machine guns are a growing threat to public safety and lawmakers cannot afford to sit on the sidelines,” said Dan Dwyer,  a gun violence survivor and volunteer with the llinois chapter of Moms Demand Action. “While lawmakers in Springfield continue to stall, communities across Illinois are already paying the price for inaction. Every day this legislation sits untouched, more DIY machine guns end up on our streets, putting families, first responders, and entire neighborhoods at risk. With only days left in session, the Gun Violence Prevention Caucus must stop dragging its feet and decide whether they’re serious about addressing this crisis or willing to let another session end without action while illegal machine guns continue flooding our streets.”

“Young people in Illinois have grown up practicing lockdown drills and living with the fear of gun violence, and now we’re watching illegal machine guns spread through our communities while lawmakers waste time,” said Rachel Weinberg, volunteer with Chicago Students Demand Action. “Cook County stepped up because leaders there understand the urgency of this moment and what’s at stake. Yet, we are still waiting for lawmakers in Springfield — including leaders who claim gun violence prevention is a priority — to do the same. Illinois should be leading on this issue, not running out the clock while communities are demanding action.”

Switches don’t just devastate communities — they carry an enormous financial cost. A 2022 Chicago mass shooting involving a switch that killed two people and wounded seven others cost an estimated $38 million, while a 2023 shooting involving a switch that wounded eight people cost an estimated $6.7 million.

HB 4471/SB 2801 would prevent the sale of semi-automatic handguns that can easily be converted into fully automatic machine guns with common household tools and a switch, which, while illegal, are easily to find online or to 3D-printed. The legislation would not impact lawful possession of firearms already owned by Illinois residents and includes exemptions for law enforcement and military sales.

Cook County’s resolution emphasized that addressing DIY machine guns is critical to “protecting the safety and well-being of its residents and reducing the threat of senseless gun violence.”

Illinois has long been a national leader on gun safety, but advocates warn the state is falling behind as other states move aggressively to address the growing threat posed by DIY machine guns and the “Plastic Pipeline.”