Alabama banned so-called “Glock switches” Wednesday, which are already prohibited by federal law, when Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that makes possession of a full-auto switch a felony in Alabama punishable by up to 10 years in prison, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
“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,” Ivey’s press release states.
Alabama Senator Will Barfoot, R-Montgomery, who authored the bill, told the local media that “guns and conversion devices are not the real problem. The real problem are the people who use those.”
The Glock-switch ban may not be the last gun-related law that Alabama’s governor supports.
“Governor Ivey began the legislative session by stating bolstering public safety is her number one priority, and she looks forward to the other bills working their way through the legislative process and reaching her desk,” according to her press release.
An Associated Press story written Tuesday states that the bill had much Democratic support.
The AP story claims Alabama had one of the highest rates of “gun violence” in the country, a comment which is linked to a 2022 graphic from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. Other local news stories contained links to more anti-gun websites, such as Johns Hopkins Annual Firearm Mortality Report.
Those who strongly oppose Second Amendment rights were quick to claim credit for the new law.
“The devices are banned under federal law and in 23 states, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. Supporters said a state ban will allow local law enforcement to prosecute people for the possession of the devices,” the AP story states.
Everytown for Gun Safety lauded the Governor’s decision, dedicating a full-page press release to the news, which contains quotes from the anti-gun group’s president, executive director, a local volunteer in Alabama and a “gun violence survivor.”
Takeaways
Gov. Ivey said she believes that creating a new law banning Glock switches will “empower” her state law enforcement to go after the problem directly and make arrests, but this may not work as she expected.
Traditionally, state and local law enforcement have always been slow to enforce new laws, especially those that copy federal statutes. Besides, state and local law enforcement agencies may not have the expertise to test and/or testify about the Glock switches that may soon be headed their way.
Despite its long list of internal problems, the ATF has successfully prosecuted many Glock-switch cases. ATF’s own files are full of successful prosecutions for the devices, which were accompanied by lab support and technical expertise. Many of the federal cases were the result of investigations started by local law enforcement.
Gun-rights proponents may not see much negative impact from Alabama’s new Glock-switch law. Serious shooters have never even seen one and would certainly never own one. However, Alabama’s new state law is a clear victory for the anti-gunners, who are already using it to raise money, which they will use to propose more anti-gun laws, including those that will harm our gun rights.
This story is presented by the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project and wouldn’t be possible without you. Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support more pro-gun stories like this.
About Lee Williams
Lee Williams, who is also known as “The Gun Writer,” is the chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project. Until recently, he was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming an editor, Lee was an investigative reporter at newspapers in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. He’s earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter, and three medals of valor as a cop. Lee is an avid tactical shooter.
Just MeeMaw and the RINO legislature virtue signaling, meanwhile Johnny still can’t read.
Feel good law from old ass woman. Gangs/thugs are still going to get them. Hell, they can even use a 3D printer to make them.
As Trump would say, Alabama Senator Will Barfoot, R-Montgomery should be “primaried”; just for thinking and actively going against any thing Gun. He should be doing the opposite and thinking, writing and advocating for repealing the 1934 Gun Control Act.
“Shall not be INFRINGED “…
Feel good nonsense. Those with switches are shooting and killing, are generally too young for pistols or already are felons. Blaming the hardware rather than jailing the thugs.
More anti gun Republicans. Get rid of them the next time they’re up for election.
We can’t have TWO anti gun parties. One’s bad enough.
If I may chime in… How do you think the government would enforce an all out gun ban, should the anti-gun lobby be successful? We have already banned switches federally, and automatic weapons are also illegal. So any automatic gun, regardless of whether it started its life as a semi-automatic or not, it is illegal. Law abiding citizens do not traffic in automatic guns, nor do they convert semi-automatic guns to fully automatic guns with a switch. WHY IS THE SOLUTION NOT A MORE FORCEFUL EFFORT TO REMOVE GUNS FROM THE HANDS OF YOUNG BLACK MEN WHO ARE PREDOMINANTLY THE… Read more »
Local officer catching someone with a Glock Switch can’t just go book them at the Federal Court house, nor can they get on the radio and say send me a Federal Agent and get a quick response. They do need something so they can charge them and get back to work. If the law is written so that it has unintended consequences or if machine guns should be illegal well that is another story.
Cocaine and meth are illegal too. How’s that working out?
When the Mississippi legislature did the same thing I called and told them it was unconstititional. No response from shallow thinkers.
HLB