In the aftermath of a devastating mass shooting in Birmingham that left four dead and 17 injured, Mayor Randall Woodfin has shifted the conversation from gang violence and criminal disregard for human life to the growing issue of illegal firearm modifications and what he sees as inadequate gun laws in his state. During a press conference, Woodfin expressed deep frustration, identifying Glock switches and lax state gun regulations as key contributors to the ongoing violence in the city.
Glock switches, devices that can convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of firing multiple rounds in seconds, have become a significant problem in Birmingham, Woodfin said.
“Glock switches are the number one public safety issue in our city and state,” he stated, underscoring the danger posed by these illegal modifications, while totally glossing over the actions and behavior of the savages who are using them to wreak havoc on innocent victims. Glock switches are already prohibited under federal law, which has only apparently stopped the law abiding, not the gangbangers who like to use them. There is no equivalent state law in Alabama, leaving local authorities hamstrung in their efforts to combat the influx of these devices, he said. The mayor should be reminded that murder, assault with a deadly weapon, illegal discharge of a weapon in city limits, illegal use of a firearm, communicating threats and illegal possession of firearms by dangerous felons are all already against the law and are at the disposal of local law enforcement in their never-ending and much-appreciated fight against crime.
“Every mayor, police chief, sheriff and district attorney I know wants Glock switches outlawed,” Woodfin added, emphasizing that the rapid-fire capabilities these switches enable have no place “on our domestic streets.” Of that, Woodfin is correct. On a range, sure, but “on the street,” no. Again, their possession is already banned by federal law. Along with all of the other laws already stated, while a state ban against the devices might make good headlines, it will do little to solve the root causes of the problem that is costing Birmingham citizens and citizens in other crime-infested cities their lives. That is unless the mayor wants to advocate a similar strategy to New York City’s, controversial, but effective, former policy of “Stop and Frisk.” Without that, there would be no way to enforce a law against switches prior to a crime being committed and discovering it installed on a firearm after the fact. It is also obvious if life in prison or even a possible death penalty isn’t deterrent enough for someone bent on killing another human being, the extra years of incarceration for using an illegal device won’t do much to prevent the crimes either.
The laws on the books need to be enforced and violent criminals need to be locked up and put away from civil society. Simply making new laws in an area where numerous laws are already in place, won’t make a difference.
The mayor’s emotional comments came just hours after the Saturday night shooting in the Five Points South area, a popular downtown entertainment district. The attack, which police believe was a targeted hit, saw multiple gunmen open fire on a crowd, leaving a trail of casualties. Investigators recovered over 100 shell casings from the scene and confirmed that the guns used were equipped with illegal Glock switches. Local media have not reported the recovery of any of the firearms used in the attack so it is not clear how they have confirmed Glock switches were used.
Despite the scale of the tragedy, Woodfin insisted that the violence plaguing Birmingham is a “solvable problem.” However, he argued that law enforcement efforts are severely hampered by the lack of adequate funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the absence of state laws regulating devices like Glock switches.
“Our hands are behind our backs,” Woodfin said. “And then a blindfold is put over our eyes, and we’re told we’re responsible.”
Woodfin also pointed to the broader issue of Alabama’s permissive gun laws, stating that people don’t need permits to carry firearms, further complicating efforts to remove dangerous individuals and illegal modifications from the streets.
“We are ready to go and get every shooter in this city,” he said, adding that without stronger gun laws and support from federal agencies, local law enforcement is struggling to keep up with the rising tide of gun violence. Mr. Mayor, if you are indeed so ready to “get every shooter in the city,” then get after it. Gun laws are not an excuse.
