Albany, NY – Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages joined hundreds of volunteers with Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action took to the halls of the New York State Capitol for their annual Advocacy Day, urging lawmakers to support Governor Hochul’s FY27 budget proposals to stop the spread of "DIY machine guns" and regulate 3D-printed firearms.

At a press conference kicking off the day, advocates stood alongside lawmakers and survivors to champion Part C of the Public Protection and General Government Article VII bill. This measure would require pistols sold in New York to be designed so they cannot be easily converted into fully automatic weapons using illegal "Glock switches." Additionally, it would mandate that new 3D printers sold in the state include technology to block the printing of firearms, their components, and illegal accessories.

“We know that across the country and here in New York, law enforcement is increasingly recovering semi-automatic pistols that are being converted into illegal guns. Many of the conversions are being made possible by small devices called Glock switches. With a device no bigger than a quarter, a handgun can be transformed in seconds, firing dozens of rounds in a moment,” said Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, sponsor of A.199-A. “Technology is moving very quickly and our laws need to keep pace. All of us are talking about AI and computers, but we also have to talk about this in regards to gun violence. We know that machine guns and conversion devices are already illegal, but law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem. This has to be done through the manufacturer, and we need to hold them accountable...We cannot wait for the bar to cross us. We have to meet the moment. New York has led the nation before when we talk about gun safety and stopping gun violence in our community, but we need to do it again.”

“New York has become a national leader when it comes to passing common-sense gun safety laws…But today we’re facing a new challenge. Because while our movement has been working to pass lifesaving laws, technology has been evolving faster than the policies designed to keep us safe, and that gap is being exploited by bad actors and gun traffickers,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of Moms Demand Action. “This isn’t some hypothetical problem. It’s already happening. From Buffalo to New York City to right here in Albany, law enforcement is recovering 3D-printed ghost guns and illegal conversion devices at crime scenes. And when these weapons are used, the consequences are devastating…Lawmakers must act now to stop the Plastic Pipeline before these weapons ever reach our streets. Because if technology can evolve, our laws can evolve too.”

“In Brooklyn, in Buffalo, in Poughkeepsie, in Syracuse, in Rochester, we have seen these ‘switches’ show up on crime scenes, converting pistols into machine guns…We cannot allow anybody, any person, any entity, any company, any corporation to wreak havoc in our state when we have the ability to stop it,” said Senator Zellnor Myrie, sponsor of S.399-A. “This is not a partisan issue. This is a piece of plastic…We are not going to stop. We are going to hold everyone accountable – every bad actor. If you are going to come after our families and our children, we will not accept that in the state of New York. We are going to get this bill passed and we are going to do it this session.”

“Waiting to act causes shootings like mine…In 2019, I was shot in the Saugus school shooting. In 2025, I spent hours in lockdown, terrified during the shooting at Brown University. I personally hold my legislators accountable for inaction,” said Mia Tretta, a Students Demand Action volunteer and gun violence survivor. In 2019, Mia was shot with a “ghost gun” at Saugus High School in California. “We are all here to call for legislation that respects our right to live safely. No one is safe anywhere in this country, and you cannot wait to act until you have an empty room in your house or a bullet in your stomach. I urge you all to support this important legislation, if not for me and my story, out of fear for yourself and your own family.”

“After living in both New York and Florida, I know, now more than ever, how important it is to have strong gun safety laws,” said Damya Ollivierre, Students Demand Action volunteer and “Glock switch” survivor. “Even when trauma from gun violence can feel impossible to overcome, New York has shown me that passing strong gun violence prevention laws can truly save lives. So, this is a call for action, and it's time for New York to once again answer. Be the leader I know this state to be.”