The Birmingham City Council has passed a landmark law banning “Glock switches,” devices that convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons, in a bid to combat rising gun violence. This legislation comes in response to a tragic mass shooting last September that left four dead, impacting local businesses and prompting urgent calls for action against a significant crime surge, with Birmingham experiencing 151 homicides in 2024 alone.
Advocates for the ban, including state representative Phillip Ensler, argue that this measure will empower law enforcement to prevent potential mass shootings and save lives. Birmingham’s history shows a disproportionate effect of gun violence on marginalized communities, raising hopes that the Glock switch ban will lead to meaningful reductions in these tragic incidents while driving renewed discussions on effective community safety measures.
Read full story at birminghamwatch.org
