The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued a warning Thursday about devices that are being sold illegally throughout New York state to make pistols more deadly.

"These machine gun conversion devices are commonly sold on the internet and social media sites," said John DeVito, special agent in charge of New York state, at the Islip Rifle Range on Long Island. "They are also being shipped here by the thousands by our other countries, i.e., China. People are purchasing these very simple but highly destructive devices."

What You Need To Know

  • The federal agency is warning that the devices, known as chips or switches, are becoming more prevalent; they can be metal, plastic, or other materials

  • The machine gun conversion devices can easily be used in many rifles to make them into machine guns

  • "These machine gun conversion devices are commonly sold on the internet and social media sites," said John DeVito, special agent in charge of New York State

  • In New York City, 93% of gun crimes involve illegally transported weapons into the five boroughs

The federal agency is warning that the devices, known as chips or switches, are becoming more prevalent; they can be metal, plastic, or made of other materials. The plastic ones are being made with 3D printers, sometimes in people’s homes.

The ATF assists the NYPD and police departments across the country in tracing weapons and bullets used in crimes to determine their origin and users, aiming to prevent future gun violence.

"The criminal element is always being adaptive and coming up with innovative means in which to threaten the public, and we as law enforcement, legislators, and government have to be evolving just as quickly," said DeVito.

The machine gun conversion devices can easily be used in many rifles to make them into machine guns.

In New York City, 93% of gun crimes involve illegally transported weapons into the five boroughs. The top states they come from are Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

There is also the massive problem of ghost guns, which are assembled with parts, many times made of plastic. And the shooters and victims are often teenagers.

Just this past week, a shooting on the subway in the Bronx killed a man, with five others injured, including teens. Police said teenagers fired the guns.

During another shooting at a Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City, along with a woman who was killed, several children and teenagers were hit by bullets.

ATF officials said there are about 500 million guns in circulation across the United States currently. Nearly 150 million were manufactured between 2010 and 2020.

With that sort of supply, it is perhaps impossible to get every illegal gun off the street and out of communities, officials said. There are also concerns with those who use legally owned weapons to cause violence.

"It’s not only a law enforcement issue, it is a community issue, and the only way to make true progress on gun violence is to have a whole-of-government and a whole community approach," said Thomas Kalogiros, ATF assistant special agent in charge.