Red state Republican triggers in-party battle with move to ban machine gun converter

Louisville Republican Rep. Jason Nemes wants Kentucky’s legislature to prohibit the sale and distribution of parts that convert semiautomatic firearms to fully automatic, known as machine gun conversion devices.

However, two GOP lawmakers on a committee that heard the bill Thursday voiced opposition, saying the proposal would limit Kentuckians’ Second Amendment rights.

Nemes, the House Republican whip, told lawmakers on the Joint Committee on Judiciary that the idea mirrors an existing prohibition in federal law and was brought to him by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey and citizens.

“Why is that important? Because right now we’re not allowed to enforce federal law, obviously, with the state. So we need a state law,” Nemes said, adding that more than two dozen other states have similar laws banning such devices, often called “switches” or “auto sears.”

One of those states is Alabama. Two Alabama state representatives, Republican Russell Bedsole and Democrat Phillip Ensler, teleconferenced in to speak in support of the legislation and how it impacted Alabama.

Bedsole underscored that during debates, Alabama Republicans became supportive of the measure after believing it “really has nothing at all to do with the Second Amendment.”

Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey speaks during a press conference. (Screenshot)

“The bottom line is this: In no way does this legislation impact the Second Amendment,” he said. “What it does is allows our state and local prosecutors to enforce the law without having to rely on our federal counterparts.”

Earlier this summer, 16 states sued the Trump administration to block redistribution of thousands of machine gun conversion devices. Most of them also had state laws banning such devices. The Trump administration has agreed to return 12,000 seized devices as part of a settlement with the gun industry and gun rights groups.

According to a draft of Nemes’ bill, a person would be guilty of possessing a machine gun conversion device under state law if “he or she possesses, obtains, receives, sells, or uses a part or combination of parts designed and intended to convert a firearm into a machine gun.” It would be a Class C felony, which could result in five to 10 years in prison.

Humphrey, who became the permanent Louisville police chief a year ago, appeared with Nemes Thursday. The chief added that the devices make “the weapon far less accurate and far more dangerous to everyone around.” He said the Louisville Metro Police Department seized 26 conversion devices in 2023. The following year, LMPD seized 58.

Louisville is Kentucky’s largest city.

Humphrey said his officers cannot enforce federal law. In situations where someone is arrested for a crime that doesn’t involve a firearm, but officers find these devices, “there is nothing we can do other than give that back to them,” he explained.

“The only hope that we have of any type of enforcement of this type of weapon is to be dependent on the federal government, particularly the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), to not only pick up the case, but go forward with the prosecution,” the police chief said.

Rep. Savannah Maddox speaks on the House floor. (LRC Public Information)

The proposal generated a lot of back and forth between Republicans, who have the supermajority in the state legislature. Lawmakers seen as Liberty Republicans, Reps. T.J. Roberts and Savannah Maddox, expressed concerns about the addition of a state law when a federal one is on the books.

“I think we’ve sorely missed out on opportunities to ensure that the Second Amendment is not a second class right,” Roberts said. “I think our energy is better spent actually expanding this right to self defense, rather than imposing further restrictions that are already illegal at the federal level.

Maddox said the bill should give those “in support of the Second Amendment” some pause as it would create a new regulation in state law.

“I appreciate where you’re coming from on this, and I appreciate the detailed research that you have put into this to create your argument, but just at the most simplistic, bare bones minimum level, I view this as new and additional gun control, and I have some issues with it,” she said. “I’m opposed to it.”

Nemes argued his bill would “not be new gun control” because it would not impose a new prohibition on citizens because it is currently illegal for Kentuckians to have these devices.

“It is illegal today. This doesn’t change that. So, to say that it puts another restriction that is factually incorrect,” Nemes said.

The bill did get some support from a Democrat on the committee. Sen. Reggie Thomas of Lexington, the Senate minority caucus chair, called it a “common sense approach” to keep police officers and the public out of harm’s way.

“To me, this has nothing to do with the Second Amendment,” Thomas said. “No one’s trying to eviscerate the Second Amendment, but every legislation that we deal with has to come from a consensus. Is it good for the public? Is it going to help the public in some way? And most importantly, as lawmakers, our number one responsibility is to make sure the public is safe.”

The committee also received a letter from gun manufacturer Glock in support of the legislation.

Kentucky lawmakers will return to Frankfort for the 2026 legislative session in January. During the interim session, legislators can present and debate possible bills ahead of reconvening.