Illinois and 15 other states sue Trump administration over switch devices

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and 16 other attorneys general are suing the Trump administration over its decision to stop enforcing a federal ban on “switch” devices that convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland and claims that the redistribution of forced reset triggers (FRTs) violates federal law and poses a threat to public safety.

The federal government signed a settlement agreement promising to stop enforcing federal law that prohibits FRTs and to redistribute the thousands of devices seized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Raoul said switch devices are illegal under Illinois law and noted their increased use in crimes.

Forced reset triggers replace the trigger mechanism on a standard firearm with one that allows for the weapon to fire multiple rounds with a single squeeze, like a machine gun.

“The Trump administration’s decision to redistribute devices that convert firearms into machine guns is extreme and would have a devastating effect on the safety of communities across our country. Federal law bans these devices, and this settlement does not change the law,” Raoul said. “Illinois law is also clear: Forced reset triggers are unlawful. I will continue to enforce the ban on forced reset triggers under Illinois law, and I will advocate against any policy that will contribute to the gun violence that has become common in too many communities in Illinois and across the nation.”

Along with Illinois, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington also participated in the lawsuit.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that switch-related cases in the Rockford area have climbed in the past three years, with the number of cases involving teenagers doubling from 2022 to 2024.

In February, Judge Iain Johnson of the Northern District of Illinois sent a letter to the U.S. Sentencing Commission asking for harsher penalties for criminals who are in possession of “switch” devices.