Chicago faces a troubling rise in gun violence attributed to handguns modified with illegal devices known as switches, which convert them into automatic weapons. This alarming trend was highlighted during a recent shootout at a 7-Eleven, where a man fired over 30 rounds from a Glock equipped with a switch, underscoring the lethal consequences of these modifications as the city grapples with increasing shooting fatalities.
Authorities emphasize that the proliferation of these switches, which have become prevalent since 2019, dramatically escalates the lethality of encounters. In fact, research reveals that the fatality rate from gunshot wounds has worsened, now claiming one in five shooting victims, compared to one in seven a decade ago. As federal initiatives like “Operation Kill Switch” aim to tackle this issue, the city is also suing gun manufacturer Glock for producing firearms that easily accommodate these dangerous attachments.
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