Austin, TX
Operation Texas Kill Switch: Effort to get illegal devices off streets
AUSTIN, Texas – The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Texas, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, announced a new effort on Monday to get illegal “machine gun conversion devices”, also known as “switches” off Texas streets.
“I’m announcing the launch of Operation Texas Kill Switch,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza.
“They possess the capability of turning semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns,” said Robert Topper, ATF Special Agent in charge of the Houston Field Division.
The goals of Operation Kill Switch are to encourage state and local police to look out for switches, and to urge the public to report switches to police.
“As the problem continues to escalate, we are determined to do more,” said Esparza.
The feds say they’ve seen a sharp increase in switches across Texas. Nine-hundred and ninety-one were seized in our state between 2017 and 2023, and 490 of those were seized last year alone. They’re often bought online, and can even be 3D-printed.
“These devices have a particular appeal to young people who are exposed to them through social media posts and advertisements,” said Topper.
Switches, made of either metal or plastic, slide into the back of a gun, and allow the shooter to fire dozens of rounds.
“You just pull the trigger once, and you unload that clip,” said Esparza.
“These weapons are notoriously difficult to control,” said Topper. “That brings a much greater risk to innocent bystanders whenever they’re used.”
Switches have been used in multiple deadly shootings, including the murder of a Houston police officer, and a deadly mass shooting at a Sweet 16 party in Alabama last year. Often, the guns themselves are stolen.
Crime Stoppers are offering up to $5,000 for information regarding switches or their production. That reward runs through August 31.
“We are very fearful of what will happen if we don’t start addressing this problem,” said Esparza.
Switches are banned under federal law in almost all cases. If you’re caught with one, you could face up to 10 years in prison.
AUSTIN, Texas — CBS Austin will air a special newscast Friday night examining where flood recovery efforts stand across Texas and what lies ahead, followed by a town hall streamed online.
“Rising Waters: One Year After the Floods” airs Friday at 6:30 p.m. on CBS Austin, taking a look at the current state of recovery efforts one year after the deadly flooding and posing the question of what’s next to state leaders.
Immediately following the special, a town hall will stream at 7 p.m. on CBSAustin.com and the station’s YouTube page.
AUSTIN, Texas – The Austin Police Department (APD) Lake Patrol Unit will be enforcing the City Ordnance that prohibits the use and operation of personal watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards, and similar devices on Lake Austin.
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Austin Police Department want the public to enjoy the parks and lakes but urge people to make this a safe holiday.
This city ordinance only applies to Lake Austin.
Personal watercraft ban
The backstory:
This ban will go into effect beginning at sunset on Friday, July 3, and ending on Sunday, July 5, at sunrise as outlined in Ordinance 8-5-81.
Non-motorized devices such as kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards can still be used along with watercraft designed for the conventional manner of sitting or standing in the vessel.
The annual ban on personal watercraft is necessary to ensure the safety of many people using the lake and parks over the July 4th holiday weekend.
Police will patrol Lake Austin this holiday weekend and urge people using waterways to follow the Texas Water Safety Act and City of Austin boating laws and ordinances. Police urge all boaters to practice safe boating and to call 9-1-1 for all reckless operation of boats or emergencies.
What is city ordinance 8-5-81?
- A person may not use or possess a jet ski, wet bike, motorized surfboard, or similar device on Lake Austin:From sunset on the Friday before Memorial Day until sunrise on the Tuesday after Memorial DayFrom sunset on the Friday before Labor Day until sunrise on the Tuesday after Labor DayFrom sunset on July 3 until sunrise on July 5
- From sunset on the Friday before Memorial Day until sunrise on the Tuesday after Memorial Day
- From sunset on the Friday before Labor Day until sunrise on the Tuesday after Labor Day
- From sunset on July 3 until sunrise on July 5
- A person operating a motorboat on Lake Austin shall stay on the right side of the lake, except when assisting a downed water skier.
- A person may not operate a watercraft on Lake Austin at a speed that is greater than reasonable and prudent under the existing circumstances.
The Source: Information from the Austin Police Department
AUSTIN, Texas – A Texas court has ordered that the domain name of a porn website be locked down after failing to comply with the state’s age-verification law.
What we know:
According to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the state sued Kick Online Entertainment, the parent company of the site, in 2024 after it didn’t follow a law enacted in 2023. It requires that porn sites displayed in Texas institute age-verification measures to restrict minors’ access to sexually explicit material.
The company ignored the lawsuit and subsequent default judgment, according to officials.
A Travis County district court judge has since ordered the company that owns the domain registry for the site to lock it down until a $9.14 million bond and age-verification is implemented by Kick Online Entertainment.
What they’re saying:
“This court order establishes a huge precedent that websites can be stripped of their domain if they ignore the law and harm children with pornographic content,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. “This affirms that protecting children from pornographic content is not only about collecting a penalty but also shutting down websites that refuse to obey the law. My office will continue to take action against any website that harms kids by allowing them access to pornographic content.”
The backstory:
Texas’ age-verification law was challenged on free-speech grounds. It was upheld in June 2025 by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Some sites have opted to block access to computers in Texas rather than comply with the law.
The Source: Information in this story came from the Texas Attorney General’s Office and previous FOX Local reporting.
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