Members of the Alabama Senate Judiciary committee advanced a bill that would make it a felony under state law to possess the parts needed to convert a pistol into a machine gun. The legislation has come to be known as the Glock switch bill.
In years past, the House has debated and advanced some form of the proposal, but today marks the furthest step it has taken to be written into state law.
Governor Kay Ivey endorsed the measure in her State of the State address last week, and will again later today as part of the “Safe Alabama” legislative package to address public safety.
State Sen. Will Barfoot is the bill’s sponsor and chairman of the committee.
“These conversion devices are already, as I said previously, are already illegal under federal law. We’re not creating new law. We are enabling our local law enforcement folks to make those arrests under Alabama state law,” Barfoot (R-Pike Road) said. “That’s number one.”
“Number two, make no mistake about it: guns and conversion devices are not the real problem. The real problem are the people who use those. But this gives the tools to the local folks to get the job done, to take those out of the hands of those violent criminals who possess those and who use those.”
While possession of machine gun conversion devices are illegal under federal law, proponents — including the mayors of Alabama’s largest cities — argue local authorities lack the prosecutorial and enforcement power to effectively get them out of the hands of criminals.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin addressed members of the Judiciary committee today to thank the senators for answering a call he has made for years to that extent.
“I believe what you all are doing here today related to machine gun conversion devices will literally save Alabamian lives in Birmingham and in other cities across the state,” Woodfin said.
Citing two mass shootings in Birmingham in 2024 where such devices were used, Woodfin urged ultra-strict penalties, including a proposed mandatory 10-year sentence for possession. He called on lawmakers to ensure those who manufacture, sell, or use the devices are held accountable.
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“Birmingham would not have had the deadliest year of record if these conversion devices had not been used in these two instances and others. We want to make sure in 2025 and beyond, that those who manufacture, those who sell and those who possess machine gun conversion devices, and especially those who use them, will be held accountable.
“I want to thank you for your time on this public safety matter and I want to thank you for your leadership,” Woodfin told senators.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
