US Illegal Automatic Firearms USAGM
Metadata
- US Illegal Automatic Firearms USAGM
- November 17, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US ILLEGAL AUTOMATIC FIREARMS TV )) HEADLINE: Illegal Device Gives Some Handguns Machine Gun Capabilities TEASER: U.S. authorities taken aback by rise of fully automatic pistols PUBLISHED AT: 11/17/2022 at 9:45am BYLINE: Veronica Balderas Iglesias CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Washington VIDEOGRAPHER/VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: td, Reifenrath VIDEO SOURCE (S): Agencies, Skype see script for others PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 4:02 VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES: UPDATE: Radio Tracks for Versioning Included)) ((TV INTRO)) [[U.S. police are alarmed at the emergence of tiny devices that easily turn some handguns into fully automatic machine guns. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias explains how illegal “switches” are causing death and worry across America.]] ((WEB LEAD)) [[U.S. police are alarmed at the emergence of tiny devices that easily turn some handguns into fully automatic machine guns. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias explains how illegal “switches” are causing death and worry across America. A warning: This report contains graphic images.]] ((Mandatory cg: LAPD Gun Unit)) ((Los Angeles Police Department Agent)) “This is a normal Glock 17 with a Glock switch and a 15-round magazine taken from the same suspect.” ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: LAPD Gun Unit)) This semi-automatic pistol, confiscated by the Los Angeles Police Department, performs like a machine gun, spewing out bullets nonstop. ((NARRATOR)) It has a conversion device, ((Mandatory CG: NewsNation)) about the size of a coin, ((Mandatory cg: LAPD Gun Unit)) which was installed illegally. ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory CG: NewsNation)) Possession of these so-called ((Mandatory cg: LAPD Gun Unit)) “switches” can land someone in jail for a decade. ((end courtesy)) Police say criminals are constantly finding new ways to get them. [[RADIO TRACK: Eric Good is a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. He spoke to VOA via Skype.]] ((Eric Good, LAPD Detective)) ((Skype)) “A couple of years ago, the vast majority of them were coming over from China. And now, during this year, I saw at least two handguns recovered in high-crime areas that were 3D printed.” [[RADIO TRACK: Fresno, California, Police Chief Paco Balderrama, via Skype]] ((Paco Balderrama, Fresno Police Chief)) ((Skype)) “A lot of these Glock switches are being bought also online. // We don’t know how many there are. All we know is that more rounds are being fired at shootings. // We used to see three or four rounds; now we’re seeing 30 or 40 rounds.” ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: NewsNation)) The switches are popular on Glock-brand handguns but are not manufactured by the company. ((end courtesy)) In the U.S. capital alone, authorities recovered 114 switches this year, nearly double all of 2021. ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: @LOSANGELESATF/TWITTER)) How many are seized nationally? ((Mandatory CG: ATF)) We couldn’t find out, because … ((NARRATOR)) … the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which keeps the stats, declined our repeated requests for an interview. ((end courtesy)) ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: ShotSpotter)) But a company called ShotSpotter has found a way to estimate the impact. The firm specializes in detecting gunshots by sound and caters ((end courtesy)) to police agencies. ((Thomas Chittum, ShotSpotter)) ((Skype)) “Between 2019 and 2021, we saw an increase from about 400 incidents to about 5,600 incidents involving full automatic gunfire — about a 14-fold increase.” ((NARRATOR)) The incidents have been deadly. Switches have figured in mass shootings this year. Back in May, two people were killed and seven wounded outside a McDonald's in Chicago. A month earlier in Sacramento, a young woman celebrating her 21st birthday was among six people killed in mass shooting. At least one of the guns recovered from the scene had been modified with a switch. ((NARRATOR)) In July, a group of Democratic Senators introduced a bill ((Mandatory CG: CONGRESS.GOV)) to quote, “Improve the capacity of Federal law enforcement agencies to detect, intercept, and seize firearm modification devices.” ((End courtesy)) ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory CG: Luis Valdes GOA + YouTube)) But Luis Valdes, a spokesman for Gun Owners of America, says criminals will keep finding ways to break gun laws no matter how strict — until they are held accountable. ((Luis Valdes, Gun Owners of America)) ((Skype)) “You have to have strict enforcement. // Some of the most violent, hardened criminals get slaps on the wrist, and they are out in a very short period of time.” ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: Montgomery County (Pa.) DA’s Office)) Prosecutors in Pennsylvania have turned to regional cooperation as a solution. They recently dismantled a firearms trafficking ring led by a 20-year-old who was selling switches despite being too young to legally buy a handgun in the state. ((Kevin Steele, Montgomery County (Pa.) District Attorney)) ((Mandatory cg: Skype)) “When we prosecute, there are serious ramifications and seriously long sentences that are being given by our judges – sometimes in the double digits – that we hope, by getting that message out, that’s going to deter other people from going down this track.” ((NARRATOR)) But deterrence can only go so far, and America needs a fuller picture of the factors at play, says Steve Lindley, with Brady: United Against Gun Violence ((Steve Lindley, Brady: United Against Gun Violence)) ((Skype)) “We are looking at a lot more funding going into universities and private research organizations to look at the social issues behind our violence and the use of firearms in our society.” ((NARRATOR)) Lindley said his nonprofit will continue working with congressional leaders toward laws that will keep guns away from people with a propensity for violence. ((Veronica Balderas Iglesias, for VOA News, Washington))
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US ILLEGAL AUTOMATIC FIREARMS TV )) HEADLINE: Illegal Device Gives Some Handguns Machine Gun Capabilities TEASER: U.S. authorities taken aback by rise of fully automatic pistols PUBLISHED AT: 11/17/2022 at 9:45am BYLINE: Veronica Balderas Iglesias CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Washington VIDEOGRAPHER/VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: td, Reifenrath VIDEO SOURCE (S): Agencies, Skype see script for others PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 4:02 VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES: UPDATE: Radio Tracks for Versioning Included)) ((TV INTRO)) [[U.S. police are alarmed at the emergence of tiny devices that easily turn some handguns into fully automatic machine guns. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias explains how illegal “switches” are causing death and worry across America.]] ((WEB LEAD)) [[U.S. police are alarmed at the emergence of tiny devices that easily turn some handguns into fully automatic machine guns. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias explains how illegal “switches” are causing death and worry across America. A warning: This report contains graphic images.]] ((Mandatory cg: LAPD Gun Unit)) ((Los Angeles Police Department Agent)) “This is a normal Glock 17 with a Glock switch and a 15-round magazine taken from the same suspect.” ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: LAPD Gun Unit)) This semi-automatic pistol, confiscated by the Los Angeles Police Department, performs like a machine gun, spewing out bullets nonstop. ((NARRATOR)) It has a conversion device, ((Mandatory CG: NewsNation)) about the size of a coin, ((Mandatory cg: LAPD Gun Unit)) which was installed illegally. ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory CG: NewsNation)) Possession of these so-called ((Mandatory cg: LAPD Gun Unit)) “switches” can land someone in jail for a decade. ((end courtesy)) Police say criminals are constantly finding new ways to get them. [[RADIO TRACK: Eric Good is a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. He spoke to VOA via Skype.]] ((Eric Good, LAPD Detective)) ((Skype)) “A couple of years ago, the vast majority of them were coming over from China. And now, during this year, I saw at least two handguns recovered in high-crime areas that were 3D printed.” [[RADIO TRACK: Fresno, California, Police Chief Paco Balderrama, via Skype]] ((Paco Balderrama, Fresno Police Chief)) ((Skype)) “A lot of these Glock switches are being bought also online. // We don’t know how many there are. All we know is that more rounds are being fired at shootings. // We used to see three or four rounds; now we’re seeing 30 or 40 rounds.” ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: NewsNation)) The switches are popular on Glock-brand handguns but are not manufactured by the company. ((end courtesy)) In the U.S. capital alone, authorities recovered 114 switches this year, nearly double all of 2021. ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: @LOSANGELESATF/TWITTER)) How many are seized nationally? ((Mandatory CG: ATF)) We couldn’t find out, because … ((NARRATOR)) … the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which keeps the stats, declined our repeated requests for an interview. ((end courtesy)) ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: ShotSpotter)) But a company called ShotSpotter has found a way to estimate the impact. The firm specializes in detecting gunshots by sound and caters ((end courtesy)) to police agencies. ((Thomas Chittum, ShotSpotter)) ((Skype)) “Between 2019 and 2021, we saw an increase from about 400 incidents to about 5,600 incidents involving full automatic gunfire — about a 14-fold increase.” ((NARRATOR)) The incidents have been deadly. Switches have figured in mass shootings this year. Back in May, two people were killed and seven wounded outside a McDonald's in Chicago. A month earlier in Sacramento, a young woman celebrating her 21st birthday was among six people killed in mass shooting. At least one of the guns recovered from the scene had been modified with a switch. ((NARRATOR)) In July, a group of Democratic Senators introduced a bill ((Mandatory CG: CONGRESS.GOV)) to quote, “Improve the capacity of Federal law enforcement agencies to detect, intercept, and seize firearm modification devices.” ((End courtesy)) ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory CG: Luis Valdes GOA + YouTube)) But Luis Valdes, a spokesman for Gun Owners of America, says criminals will keep finding ways to break gun laws no matter how strict — until they are held accountable. ((Luis Valdes, Gun Owners of America)) ((Skype)) “You have to have strict enforcement. // Some of the most violent, hardened criminals get slaps on the wrist, and they are out in a very short period of time.” ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: Montgomery County (Pa.) DA’s Office)) Prosecutors in Pennsylvania have turned to regional cooperation as a solution. They recently dismantled a firearms trafficking ring led by a 20-year-old who was selling switches despite being too young to legally buy a handgun in the state. ((Kevin Steele, Montgomery County (Pa.) District Attorney)) ((Mandatory cg: Skype)) “When we prosecute, there are serious ramifications and seriously long sentences that are being given by our judges – sometimes in the double digits – that we hope, by getting that message out, that’s going to deter other people from going down this track.” ((NARRATOR)) But deterrence can only go so far, and America needs a fuller picture of the factors at play, says Steve Lindley, with Brady: United Against Gun Violence ((Steve Lindley, Brady: United Against Gun Violence)) ((Skype)) “We are looking at a lot more funding going into universities and private research organizations to look at the social issues behind our violence and the use of firearms in our society.” ((NARRATOR)) Lindley said his nonprofit will continue working with congressional leaders toward laws that will keep guns away from people with a propensity for violence. ((Veronica Balderas Iglesias, for VOA News, Washington))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date November 17, 2022 12:52 EST
- Byline Vero Balderas
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America