Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
All Things Considered
Megan Burks and Tom Crann

Gun violence is down in Minneapolis, but auto sears may be causing more widespread injury

handgun
Auto sears, also known as switches, turn traditional handguns like the one shown above into automatic weapons.
Kenny Luo on Unsplash

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at least one assault weapon was likely used in a shooting that injured eight people near East Franklin and Chicago avenues Sunday night.

While he did not offer more specifics on the weapon, he and other law enforcement officials in the region have said they’re seeing an increase in the use of auto sears, also known as switches, that turn traditional handguns into automatic weapons. And those cheap, widely available parts are leading to incidents that injure more people despite an overall decrease in gun violence, said New York Times correspondent Ernesto Londoño.

“Once you pull the trigger, the weapon becomes very unwieldy,” he said. “In addition to the people who are the intended target of gun violence, bystanders are increasingly in harm’s way.”

Londoño, who is based in St. Paul, has been reporting on the rise of auto sears nationwide. He spoke with a Hennepin Healthcare emergency medicine doctor who said he’s seeing more gunshot victims who were bystanders.

SoundThinking, which was previously called ShotSpotter, has reported a 49 percent increase in the sound of automatic fire in cities where it has audio sensors, Londoño added. That data includes Minneapolis gunfire.

Just last week, Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger charged two alleged gang members for owning guns outfitted with auto sears. And the nonfatal shooting of a Minneapolis police officer Aug. 11 involved one.

Londoño said prosecutors across the country are trying to crack down on the illegal devices.

For more, click on the audio player above or read Londoño’s reporting here.