Tennessee is the 27th State to Ban Glock Switches; Follows Republican Governors Signing Similar Legislation in Alabama, Mississippi, and Virginia
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Today, the Tennessee chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statements after Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed legislation that will make Tennessee the 27th state to ban Glock switches – deadly devices that convert handguns into machine guns. The legislation was a key provision of HB 1093, sponsored by Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson. Following Governor Bill Lee’s signature, Tennessee becomes the 27th state to pass legislation banning these devices, joining a growing bipartisan movement supported by law enforcement nationwide. Earlier this year, Governor Kay Ivey signed similar legislation, following other states including Mississippi and Virginia last legislative session.
“Banning Glock switches is bad news for criminals who want to inflict maximum damage with a single pull of the trigger, and lifesaving news for law enforcement and the communities they’re charged with protecting,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “We applaud Tennessee lawmakers for forging a bipartisan response to the threat of Glock switches, and urge them to keep working together on common-sense solutions to gun violence.”
“Once again, it’s clear that no matter if you’re in a red, blue, or purple state, no one wants to live in a place where everyday weapons are turned into DIY machine guns,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “Glock switches have no place in Tennessee communities. We’re deeply grateful to the lawmakers, advocates, and survivors in the state who fought to get this bill across the finish line.”
“Today’s victory speaks volumes to the bipartisan progress that we can—and must—make together to prevent gun violence in Tennessee,”said Linda McFadyen-Ketchum, a volunteer with the Tennessee chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Banning Glock switches is just common sense — these devices turn everyday guns into illegal machine guns, and they have no place in our communities. This win is a meaningful step toward making Tennessee safer for everyone.”
“This is a huge victory for young Tennesseans,” said Emma Mann, a volunteer with the Vanderbilt Students Demand Action chapter. “My generation has been traumatized by America’s gun violence crisis, and it’s moments like this, after years of advocacy and mobilizing, that make it all worth it. Gun violence is preventable, and we won’t stop fighting for the safety of our communities.”
Machine gun conversion devices, including “Glock switches,” are aftermarket tools that allow users to convert semi-automatic firearms into illegal fully automatic machine guns. These devices have been used in numerous mass shootings, including one in Memphis in April 2024. They also pose a particular threat to law enforcement officers. Glock switches have been used in shootings that injured and killed law enforcement officers across the country, including in Mississippi, Texas, and Colorado.
To build on this important victory for gun safety, the Tennessee legislature must continue prioritizing public safety by passing secure firearm storage laws — including a Child Access Prevention (CAP) law and legislation requiring safe storage of guns in vehicles. Both measures were introduced this year but stalled in committee, leaving critical gaps unaddressed.
Tennessee has the 11th-highest rate of gun deaths and the 8th-highest rate of gun homicide in the U.S. On average, 1,476 people die each year by guns. Gun violence costs Tennessee $18.0 billion each year, of which $415.5 million is paid by taxpayers. Read more on the impacts of gun violence on Tennessee here.