Alabama just took a massive swing at street-level gun violence, and honestly, it’s a move that has been years in the making. Governor Kay Ivey officially put pen to paper on Senate Bill 116, a piece of legislation that specifically bans "Glock switches" and other machine gun conversion devices across the state.
It passed with a heavy dose of bipartisan support, which—let's be real—isn't something you see every day in Montgomery when guns are the topic.
For a long time, these tiny pieces of metal or plastic were a legal "gray area" for local cops. Not because they were legal—they’ve been a felony under federal law since the 80s—but because local police often had their hands tied when they found one. If a Birmingham beat appointee found a switch during a traffic stop, they usually had to call in the feds to get a prosecution to stick.
That changed on March 19, 2025. Now, Alabama has its own teeth.
The Reality of Glock Switches in Alabama
So, what exactly are we talking about here? If you aren't a "gun person," a Glock switch sounds like a technical component. In reality, it’s a small device, often about the size of a nickel, that snaps onto the back of a semi-automatic handgun.
Normally, a semi-auto fires one round for every pull of the trigger. You pull, it bangs, you release. Simple. But once you slide a switch onto the back of a Glock, the internal mechanics change. It overrides the sear. Suddenly, that handgun is a machine gun. It will dump an entire 30-round magazine in about two seconds flat.
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You can’t aim that. Nobody can. It’s "spray and pray" in the literal sense, and that’s exactly why law enforcement was begging for this bill.
Why Now? The Breaking Point in Birmingham and Tuskegee
The push for SB 116 wasn't just some random legislative whim. It was fueled by a string of high-profile tragedies that left the state reeling.
- The Five Points South Shooting: In September 2024, a mass shooting in Birmingham’s entertainment district left four people dead and 17 wounded. Investigators quickly pointed to conversion devices as a reason for the high casualty count.
- The Tuskegee Homecoming Tragedy: Just a few months later, another shooting at a party during Tuskegee University’s homecoming saw a shooter use a switched-up weapon to kill one and injure 16 others.
When you look at the stats, it’s kind of staggering. The ATF reported that the number of conversion devices recovered in Alabama spiked by over 1,200% year-over-year recently. Local mayors, like Birmingham’s Randall Woodfin, had been shouting from the rooftops that local police needed the power to handle these cases themselves without waiting on a federal grand jury.
Breaking Down the New Penalties
SB 116 makes it a Class C felony to possess, obtain, receive, sell, or use one of these devices. If you're caught with one, you aren't just looking at a slap on the wrist.
The prison time ranges from one year and one day up to 10 years. There’s also a potential fine of up to $15,000.
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One of the most interesting (and controversial) parts of the law is the "knowledge" requirement—or lack thereof. During the floor debates, an amendment was added to ensure the law has "more teeth" than the federal version. Basically, it makes it easier for state prosecutors to secure a conviction even if someone claims they didn't "knowingly" have the device, though defense attorneys have already started raising eyebrows at how that will play out in court.
Who is Exempt?
The law isn't a blanket ban for everyone. It mirrors federal exemptions, meaning it doesn't apply to:
- Law enforcement officers acting in an official capacity.
- People who have properly registered their firearms with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
- Any device that increases the rate of fire but doesn't allow more than two shots with a single trigger pull (like certain competition triggers).
The Political Tug-of-War
It’s easy to assume this was a "gun control" vs. "gun rights" battle, but the reality was more nuanced. The bill’s primary sponsor was Senator Will Barfoot, a Republican from Pike Road. He’s a staunch Second Amendment supporter and a gun owner himself.
"There is a balancing act here," Barfoot said during the session. His argument was basically that since these are already illegal federally, giving local cops the power to enforce the ban doesn't actually infringe on the rights of law-abiding owners—because a law-abiding citizen shouldn't have an illegal machine gun anyway.
On the other side of the aisle, Representative Phillip Ensler, a Democrat from Montgomery, had been pushing for this for three years. He’s a former teacher who saw the impact of gun violence on his students. For him, this was a long-awaited victory for public safety.
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What This Means for You (The Actionable Part)
If you live in Alabama or are traveling through, the legal landscape has shifted. You can't just treat these as "tactical accessories" you found online.
- Check Your Gear: If you bought a "full auto sear" or a "selector switch" from a questionable website (often marketed as "clover hole" or "coat hangers"), get rid of it. Possession is now a state felony.
- Federal vs. State: Don't think that because the feds are busy, you’re safe. Local police can now arrest you on the spot and the District Attorney can charge you the next morning.
- Consecutive Sentencing: Because this is now both a state and federal crime, it is theoretically possible for someone to be charged by both jurisdictions. You could finish a state sentence only to be picked up by the feds to start a second one.
Next Steps for Alabamians
If you’re concerned about crime in your neighborhood, some cities are putting their money where their mouth is. Birmingham, for instance, has teamed up with Crime Stoppers to offer a $1,000 reward for tips that lead to an arrest for Glock switch possession.
The bottom line? The "wait and see" period for conversion devices in Alabama is over. The state has moved them into the same category as any other illegal machine gun, and they're looking to make examples out of those who haven't caught on yet.
Keep your kit legal, stay informed on the local DA's stance in your county, and recognize that in Alabama, the "switch" is officially off.