Two bills to ban Glock switches in state statute advanced this morning through the Senate Judiciary agenda, the first meeting of the committee since the legislative session began.
Committee chairman State Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) carried one version of the Bill SB 16 and explained that the purpose is to "give local law enforcement the ability, when they pull someone over, to arrest them on a state statute," if they're found to have any part of the conversion device.
State Sen. Roger Smitherman (D-Birmingham), who sponsored the second version of the Glock switch ban, SB 31, thanked Barfoot for bringing the two bills up and explained that the "Southside" shooting that resulted in four deaths and seventeen injuries was in his district, Senate District 18.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin spoke in favor of the bill, thanking the committee by saying, "I believe what you are doing here today will save Alabamian lives."
He blamed the devices for Birmingham having its deadliest year on record if not for the devices and asked for a "10-year sentence for simple possession."
Barfoot, however, took a moment after Woodfin's remark to note that this isn't a new law. It mirrors federal law but would "enable" local law enforcement to arrest and prosecutors to prosecute those found with the devices without involving federal law enforcement.
"Make no mistake about it, guns and conversion devices are not the real problem. The real problem are the people who use those," Barfoot said in response to Woodfin's comments.
State Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) took issue with Barfoot's comments about it being the people, not the device, that was the problem, arguing that Alabama's permitless carry bill somehow made it harder for law enforcement to do their jobs.
"We don't want to have the gun control conversation because that's what the real issue is," he explained.
At this point, Smitherman jumped back into the conversation, supporting Barfoot and reiterating that "it is the people," responsible for the crimes, adding, "You gotta get them off the streets and keep them off the streets."
Barfoot explained how his Senate bill differs from House Bill 26 offered by State Rep. Phillip Ensler (D-Montgomery), noting that his bill does not include an additional ban on a "binary trigger," which is not banned by federal law.
The bills passed committee with 10 "ayes" with three abstaining.
Opponents have called the bill a distraction from the problem. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), for instance has spoken out against the effort for additional state laws to address it by saying, "I think as long as we've got it federally, I mean, a federal crime is just as bad as a state crime, so we should not have switches that make an automatic weapon out of a pistol."
"My God, why should we have that? But there is no reason for legislation on that. When people have that and we find out they have it, put them in jail," he added.
Tuberville continued, "Federal marshals should be involved. FBI should be involved. Anybody to do with gang-related problems should be involved. Most of these are gang-related, drug-related, gun-related. You know, guns and drugs and human trafficking, folks, are coming across that border down there. I've seen it. I've been down there. And I'm getting sick and tired of politicians on both sides denying this is happening, and it's ruining our country."
Apryl Marie Fogel is a Birmingham resident who frequently appears on and guest hosts radio programs around the state. She can be reached at aprylmarie.fogel@1819news.com or on X and Facebook at @aprylmarie.
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