MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On Wednesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey officially enacted a new law that prohibits the use of Glock switches and other gun conversion devices. These devices have gained notoriety after contributing to a deadly surge in shootings last year. The legislation addresses the transformation of semi-automatic firearms into weapons that operate like fully automatic guns, a phenomenon that prompted concern following multiple mass shooting incidents, including a tragic event in Birmingham, where four lives were lost last September.
Governor Ivey highlighted the necessity of a state-level law despite existing federal restrictions, in order to enhance the ability of Alabama’s law enforcement to tackle this issue effectively. “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,” said Ivey in a statement.
Following the legislative decision, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin addressed his community directly, particularly targeting those involved with gun conversion devices, whom he termed the “switch boys.” Woodfin warned these individuals they would face legal consequences and reiterated the seriousness of the city’s stance with a social media message that warned against this illegal activity.
To encourage public cooperation, Mayor Woodfin announced a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of individuals possessing these devices. “These devices only hurt people, particularly innocent people,” Woodfin stated, expressing the city’s frustration with ongoing violence driven by such modifications. Having lost family members to shootings, Woodfin is personally impacted by the devastating effects of gun violence. The rapid-firing nature of these conversions presents additional risks during attacks, exacerbating the potential for casualties.
Mayors from the ten largest cities across Alabama joined in expressing gratitude towards Governor Ivey for her leadership and successful signing of the bill. Previously, during her State of the State address, Ivey had underscored the necessity for legislative action on this matter.
This new law categorizes the possession or sale of gun conversion devices as a Class C felony, which could lead to a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Alabama now aligns with 23 other states in banning these devices. With gun-related fatalities reaching 1,278 in 2022, Alabama’s gun violence rate ranks among the highest in the U.S., according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coming only after Mississippi, Louisiana, and New Mexico.