Feds crack down on cheap parts, sold online, that illegally turn pistols into machine guns Karo Khudanyan, 24, is one of three North Texans accused of owning the converter “switches,” typically from China, that make Glock handguns fully automatic. ATF agents and local police say small and inexpensive Chinese-made devices are being imported into the U.S. for the purpose of illegally converting handguns into fully-automatic machine guns. Three North Texas cases involving the Glock "switches" are currently pending in federal court.(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) At least three North Texans are among multiple people nationwide who are accused of possessing a small and inexpensive device — typically available online from China — that can turn an ordinary pistol into a dangerous and illegal machine gun, according to federal court records.