Alabama became the 25th state to enact a ban on Glock switches and other conversion devices that turn semi-automatic firearms into machine guns.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed the act into law upon the passage of SB 116, legislation that lawmakers in both chambers passed with bipartisan support. The law, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Montgomery), now makes it a Class C felony to be found in possession of a Glock switch, according to the governor’s office.

These aftermarket devices have been used in several mass shootings, including in Birmingham in September 2024 and Tuskegee in November 2024. Glock switches have also been used in shootings that injured and killed law enforcement officers across the country, including in Mississippi, Texas and Colorado. Governors in Mississippi, Virginia and Maryland signed similar bans last year.

“Regardless of what side of the aisle you’re on, we can all agree that nobody should worry they could fall victim to a handgun equipped to fire like a machine gun because of a Glock switch,” said Melissa Bailey, a volunteer with the Alabama chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We’ve seen the kind of devastation that can be inflicted upon innocent bystanders when these Glock switches are in our streets, and we’re grateful to Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Legislature who took this major step forward to save lives in Alabama.”

Alabama law enforcement and local elected leaders have supported the prohibition of these devices. With a Glock switch installed, a shooter can fire an entire magazine’s worth of ammunition in seconds. Data from the ATF shows the number of Glock switches recovered by law enforcement in Alabama has increased by over 1,200%, year over year.

Amanda Waymon is a gun violence survivor and volunteer with the Students Demand Action chapter at Tuskegee University, where last fall a shooter used a Glock switch to shoot at a party during homecoming week, killing one and injuring 16, including Waymon.

“There’s no reason civilians should have access to weapons of war, and today marks a massive step towards making our schools, homes, and communities safer in Alabama,” Waymon said in a statement upon the bill’s passing.

In an average year, 1,220 people die and 2,855 are wounded by guns in Alabama, according to Everytown For Gun Safety. Alabama has the fourth-highest rate of gun violence in the U.S.

The rate of gun deaths statewide increased 52% from 2014 to 2023, compared to a 34% increase nationwide. Gun violence costs Alabama $15.4 billion each year, of which $421.4 million is paid by taxpayers.