HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Hopkinsville Police Chief Jason Newby is one of several chiefs in the commonwealth who are taking a public stance against dangerous, illegal gun modifications by speaking up in favor of House Bill 299 to the Kentucky General Assembly in Frankfort later this month.
“In an effort to help make our community safer, Chief Newby has joined efforts with other Chiefs of Police to support the passage of HB 299 as it relates to ‘Glock switches,'” said a statement from HPD. “He will testify on Feb. 17 at the State Capitol before the House of Representatives to support this effort.”
A Glock switch is a small attachment that can transform a standard semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic machine gun. Possession of these switches are already a federal crime; however, local and state agencies have no authority to prosecute these offenses under Kentucky law, forcing them to wait for federal intervention.
Letter written to General Assembly in support of HB 299
A letter was written and signed by police chiefs in Kentucky to the members of the General Assembly and citizens of the commonwealth about HB 299. It disclosed the dangers of Glock switches, saying that in the last two years, officers have seen a significant rise in prevalence, especially in cities like Louisville.
Read a portion of the letter below.
“As law enforcement, our first commitment and priority is to protect the people of our communities. But that work is drastically more difficult if our officers are facing weapons that cause indiscriminate harm…The danger these devices pose to our communities and our officers cannot be overstated. Because these switches are inexpensive and easily concealed, they are increasingly falling into the hands of violent offenders and juveniles. A single pull of the trigger can empty a high-capacity magazine in less than three seconds, turning a neighborhood street into a literal combat zone. Furthermore, because these modified weapons are nearly impossible to control, the risk of collateral damage to innocent bystanders-children playing in yards or families in their homes- is extreme.”
House Bill 299 would enact a state-level ban and classify possession as a Class C felony. The letter states that even GLOCK Inc. has formally supported denouncing illegal modifications that compromise the safety and integrity of their products.
The letter is signed by Chief Newby, along with chiefs from Louisville, Bowling Green, Jeffersontown, Elizabeth, Lexington, and the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association.
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