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On Wednesday, Gov. Key Ivey signed Senate Bill 116 that will officially ban illegal machine gun conversion devices statewide in Alabama.

The signed bill was sponsored by State Sen. Will Barefoot (R-Montgomery) and State Rep. Phillip Ensler (D-Huntsville) as a way to empower those within the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to take the Glock switches off of the streets, according to Ivey.

State Sen. Robert Stewart, D-Selma, was pleased to see the bill pass.

“I am most pleased that the legislature took decisive action to enact legislation banning the use of Glock switches,” Stewart said. “These weapons are a deadly modification fueling an epidemic of violence in our communities and our state at large. With this legislation being enacted it not only remedies a public safety and law enforcement issue—it helps to remedy gun violence, which is a public health crisis.”

Hal Taylor, Secretary of ALEA, commended Ivey for bringing the bill into law and said this important legislation further strengthens their commitment to public safety by banning machine gun conversion devices at the state level.

Taylor continued on by saying, “While these devices are already prohibited under federal law, the enactment of this state law provides local law enforcement with the additional tools necessary to protect the people of Alabama and reduce the risk of gun violence in our communities.”

Senate Bill 116 falls within the governor’s “Safe Alabama” public safety package that was released in early February geared to reinforce public safety.

Ivey said she is proud to support law enforcement and by putting her signature on this bill, she is working to combat crime.

Those who break the law regarding the latest signed bill, would be charged with a Class C felony for those who knowingly possess a “Glock Switch”, which is a part or combination of parts designed to convert a pistol into a fully automatic machine gun.

Taylor said he expresses his gratitude to the legislators who worked tirelessly on the bill and to those who supported it, for their dedication to make Alabama a safer place.

“This law sends a strong message that we will not tolerate the unlawful conversion of firearms and we will continue to stand together for the safety and the security of our citizens,” Taylor said.