GIFFORDS applauds Alabama lawmaker’s ban on dangerous machine gun conversion devices

WASHINGTON —GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released a statement praising the Alabama legislature for passing a new statewide ban on dangerous machine gun conversion devices. The devices, also called “Glock switches” or auto sears, can easily convert a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic machine gun, making shootings far more deadly with a single pull of the trigger. This legislation comes after the mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama in September 2024, where four people died and 17 more were injured.

“Alabama took an important step in addressing a serious public safety issue by banning Glock switches, which convert a semiautomatic into a machine gun. This measure empowers state and local police to crack down on these dangerous devices that are already banned federally, ultimately making Alabamians safer,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director at GIFFORDS. “What’s more, the bipartisan support that brought this bill to life demonstrates that Republican and Democratic lawmakers understand the public health crisis of guns in America, and can work together when lives are at stake.”