Alabama Takes Aim: SB116 Prohibits Dangerous Machine Gun Conversion Devices
In a significant move aimed at enhancing public safety, the Alabama Legislature has passed, and the Governor has enacted, SB116. This crucial piece of legislation directly targets the proliferation of small, dangerous devices capable of converting ordinary semi-automatic pistols into illegal fully automatic machine guns. Signed into law on March 19, 2025, the bill represents a decisive step against a growing threat highlighted by law enforcement agencies nationwide.
What are Machine Gun Conversion Devices?
Often referred to as "Glock switches," "auto sears," or simply "conversion devices," these parts exploit a loophole in firearm mechanics. They are designed specifically to modify a semi-automatic pistol's firing mechanism, enabling it to fire continuously with a single pull of the trigger, mimicking a machine gun. The ease with which these devices can be acquired (sometimes illegally manufactured or 3D printed) and installed has made them a dangerous tool in criminal hands, drastically increasing the lethality of commonly available firearms.
The Legislative Journey of SB116
The path for SB116 began on February 5, 2025, when it was introduced by Senator Will Barfoot (Republican, District SD-025), a legislator with a moderate effectiveness score (45.0). The bill was immediately referred to the powerful Senate Committee on Judiciary (Power Score: 70.0), signaling the seriousness with which the issue was treated.
The bill moved relatively quickly through the initial stages:
- Feb 12: Reported favorably out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- Feb 25: The bill reached the Senate floor. An amendment by Senator Smitherman (SLLJS77-1) was offered and adopted (Roll Call 179, 28 Yea, 0 Nay, 6 Absent). The bill, as amended, was then read a third time and passed the Senate decisively (Roll Call 180, 28 Yea, 0 Nay, 6 Absent).
Following Senate passage, SB116 crossed over to the House of Representatives:
- Feb 25: Referred to the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security (Power Score: 70.0).
- Mar 5: The House committee proposed its own amendment (RBBPAYM-1) and reported the bill out with an engrossed substitute (7BB382V-1).
- Mar 6: The House floor debated the bill. The committee's substitute amendment was adopted (Roll Call 371, 85 Yea, 16 Nay, 3 NV). The final vote on passage in the House revealed more division than in the Senate (Roll Call 372, 77 Yea, 23 Nay, 4 NV). This split, coupled with the bill's designation as lacking bipartisan support, suggests the debate likely involved differing perspectives on gun regulation versus Second Amendment rights, possibly falling along party lines.
Key changes emerged between the introduced version and the final enrolled bill passed by the House. The enrolled version broadened the scope of prohibited actions from merely possessing such devices to include possessing, obtaining, receiving, selling, or using them. Furthermore, the effective date was changed from October 1, 2025, to immediately upon enactment, reflecting a greater sense of urgency.
- Mar 18: The bill returned to the Senate for concurrence on the House amendments. Senator Barfoot moved to concur, and the Senate agreed (Roll Call 319, 24 Yea, 2 Nay, 8 Absent), showing continued strong, though not unanimous, support in the originating chamber.
- Mar 18: The bill was enrolled and delivered to the Governor.
- Mar 19: Governor signed SB116 into law, making it effective immediately.
Impact and Analysis
SB116 makes it a Class C felony for a person to possess, obtain, receive, sell, or use a part or combination of parts designed and intended to convert a pistol into a machine gun. The law includes standard exemptions for law enforcement acting in their official capacity and for firearms or parts properly registered under the National Firearms Act.
LegiEquity's analysis rates SB116 with an 80% Positive Overall Impact with High Confidence. This high positive score stems from the bill's direct action to remove exceptionally dangerous and illegal modifications from public circulation. By specifically targeting conversion devices, the law addresses a known factor in escalating gun violence, potentially preventing tragic incidents involving weapons with illegal rates of fire. The analysis further indicates particularly positive impacts for demographics related to age (80% Positive, with 85% for Children/Youth) and gender (85% Positive, with 90% for Males), likely reflecting the disproportionate impact of gun violence on these groups, especially young men.
Historically, federal laws like the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Firearm Owners' Protection Act of 1986 have strictly regulated machine guns. However, the emergence of easily produced conversion devices presented a modern challenge to these regulations. SB116 aligns Alabama state law more closely with the intent of federal law by criminalizing these specific components, mirroring efforts in other states and at the federal level to combat the spread of these illegal modifications.
The passage of SB116 demonstrates Alabama's commitment to addressing specific, identifiable threats to public safety related to firearms, even amidst complex political debates surrounding gun rights. While facing some opposition, the bill ultimately garnered significant legislative support, closing a dangerous loophole and making it unequivocally illegal to turn a standard pistol into a machine gun in the state.
LegiEquity analyzes proposed legislation to determine its potential impact on various demographic groups. Our goal is to provide objective insights into how laws may affect different communities.
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