A Democrat's bill to ban so-called Glock switches on the state level may see growing support among Republicans during the next legislative session, according to an AL.com report.
A Glock switch is a device that allows a semi-automatic pistol to perform like a fully automatic weapon, with a machine-gun spray of rounds being fired with a single trigger pull. At least one was used in last weekend's Birmingham mass shooting that killed four people and wounded 17 others.
The bill is being sponsored by Alabama state Rep. Phillip Ensler, a Montgomery Democrat, for the third time. Earlier this year it passed the House of Representatives but never got a vote in the Senate.
Next year odds seem good for the bill once again in the House. Key Republicans with law-enforcement backgrounds have signed on as co-sponsors.
In the Senate, Rules Committee Chair Jabo Waggoner, a Vestavia Hills Republican, said he's ready to support a ban. Eight Republicans had confirmed to AL.com they're behind it.
Some are more hesitant. Sen. Chris Elliott, a Josephine Republican, pointed out that Glock switches are already illegal, banned by federal law.
Supporters of the bill counter that, currently, if an officer finds you in possession of the device he or she has to turn the case over to the feds, who then decide whether or not they want to prosecute. With this bill, district attorneys in Alabama can go ahead and prosecute.
The legislation makes possession of the device a Class C felony that can get you 1 to 10 years in prison.
