Alabama's governor signed a law on Wednesday banning the conversion of pistols into fully automatic weapons, responding to a year marked by significant gun violence in the state.
The devices, commonly referred to as Glock switches, are already prohibited under federal law. However, local law enforcement has indicated that the absence of a state law hindered their ability to charge and prosecute individuals using these devices, exacerbating the gun violence crisis in cities such as Birmingham.
Governor Kay Ivey, a Republican, who had previously advocated for the bipartisan legislation, stated that "while there is a federal ban on these gun conversion devices, we needed a way to empower our own law enforcement here in Alabama to get these illegal and extremely dangerous Glock switches off our streets."
The conversion devices can rapidly transform semiautomatic handguns into makeshift machine guns capable of firing multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger, contributing to numerous gun fatalities in Alabama.
Other similarly conservative states, including Mississippi and South Carolina, have enacted bans on these devices, while Tennessee lawmakers are considering similar legislation. In total, over 20 states have implemented bans, according to data from Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun-control advocacy group.
In some states, Democratic lawmakers have been advocating for more stringent regulations on gun conversion devices. Recently, legislators in New York introduced a bill targeting Glock switches and proposing to prohibit the sale of semiautomatic pistols that can be easily modified.
In recent years, the passage of bans in the conservative South has gained traction thanks to backing from local law enforcement, who argue that such measures enhance community safety.
The new law follows a record surge in violence in Birmingham, which recorded 151 homicides last year, including four fatalities from a nightclub shooting. Mayor Randall Woodfin, a Democrat, had been urging state lawmakers to implement a ban on these devices to mitigate violence.
In a video posted on social media, Mayor Woodfin expressed that the ban would empower authorities to target individuals who possess, sell, or manufacture conversion devices. The law, however, excludes law enforcement officials and those registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Alabama has historically experienced high rates of gun violence and maintains lax gun laws. Critics argue that these permissive laws contribute to the ongoing struggles to combat violence in the state. In 2022, Alabama recorded 1,278 gun-related deaths, ranking fourth highest in the nation for that year.
State Representative Phillip Ensler, a Democrat, has advocated for the ban for three years, successfully rallying sheriffs and police chiefs to communicate its importance to lawmakers.
Ensler noted that the initial response from Republican lawmakers was largely resistant to gun-related legislation. However, law enforcement underscored the risk posed by Glock switches, asserting they are unsuitable for hunting and pose dangers in self-defense scenarios due to their uncontrolled discharge.
Lawmakers were also taken to shooting ranges where officials demonstrated how Glock switches operate, leading to State Senator Will Barfoot, a Republican, sponsoring the bill, which classifies the possession or sale of the devices as a felony punishable by up to ten years in prison.
"When you work across the aisle, when you educate people, there is hope," Ensler remarked. "There is an opportunity to try to do something meaningful."