Earlier this month, the Department of Justice seized over 350 Chinese websites linked to selling Glock switches, suppressor kits, and more. That’s a pretty big bust, at least it seems to be. The websites are linked to China, which has been a fairly famous exporter of NFA-violating options. I believe I should be able to order a Glock switch or suppressor off the internet and have it arrive with Prime Two-Day shipping, but the Federal Government seems to have a different opinion.
Does Shutting Down the Chinese Websites Matter?
According to the Justice Department, the websites were targeted for selling Glock switches and screw-together suppressors. The Feds apparently purchased a variety of Glock switches and suppressors. They confirmed they were shipped from China and marked as necklaces and toys to avoid Customs scrutiny.
According to the Feds, these Chinese websites “… represent a large-scale, organized effort to import illegal switches and silencers that turn ordinary firearms into deadly automatic weapons. HSI has worked diligently with our partners to systematically dismantle this network of websites to uphold our nation’s import laws and to preserve public safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England.
“HSI cyber investigations work to keep illegal switches and silencers out of the hands of criminals who use them to commit violence and facilitate crime in our communities,” he concluded.
Glock switches have become a surprisingly common sight amongst American street gangs. We’ve seen several high-profile incidents in states, most with strict gun control, carried out by criminals with converted Glocks.
The Feds claimed they ‘seized’ 700 Glock switches, 87 suppressors, as well as 59 handguns and 36 long guns. Nowhere does it state that the Chinese websites were selling guns. This is pure speculation, but I think the long guns and handguns came from seizures from U.S. Citizens.
When they seized the websites, they seized records of sale and were able to track down purchasers of said illegal items. I’m also betting the Fed purchased a ton of switches and fake suppressors and filtered a lot of taxpayer money to China in this scheme.
Will It Work?
While the feds are likely giving themselves a big pat on the back for seizing these 355 Chinese websites, what they aren’t saying is that it doesn’t really matter. The folks in China selling these items remain unaffected. American federal agents can’t go to China and arrest these people. This likely just represents a minor inconvenience to the Chinese side of the operation.
They’ll just set up new websites. It’s not exactly hard to do. The feds will likely continue to play a game of Whack-a-mole with the various Chinese sources selling Glock switches and suppressors.
Why It Matters to You
While I believe that you have a right to own suppressors and machine guns, I will straight up tell you not to order them from China and shady websites in general. I don’t think you’re doing anything morally wrong, just stupid. The Chinese only care about their profit margins, and the feds care about arrest statistics.
In the middle sits us who appreciate the 2nd Amendment. If you give the Chinese your cash, the feds will take your years. These Chinese websites don’t care about your privacy or security. They don’t even have to give it to the Feds. It’s likely there for the taking. The domains are seized. Any companies that have hosted the websites will gladly give the Feds a key to the kingdom.
That means your address, your name, credit card information, and everything they need to put you away for your best years.
Wish and Alibaba Are Still Running
Websites like Wish and Alibaba have become memes over the years for the crazy counterfeit goods they sell. Wish sells tons of firearm goods, and famously, it sells Glock Switches, suppressors, and more. You might wonder why those websites haven’t been seized. Neither does Amazon, which has sold Glock switches for years as airsoft parts.
These websites are large, funded by billionaires, and will immediately comply with federal requests for your records. There is no safe way to buy these items outside of NFA compliance. Just don’t do it. You will get caught, and then you’re a felon who can’t even vote to preserve gun rights. Unfortunately, we will have to fight and rally against the NFA to make it easy and legal to buy what we want when we want it.
