Gov. Lee signs bill banning glock switches in Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Glock switches are now banned in the state of Tennessee after Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill to outlaw the firearm accessory.
Tennessee is now the 27th state in the nation to ban the device that converts handguns into fully-automatic weapons.
States are mimicking federal law, which generally prohibits machine guns and any parts that can transform semiautomatic weapons into automatic ones.
Glock switches have been used in countless mass shootings, including one in Memphis in 2024.
The legislation was sponsored by House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson and passed with bipartisan support.
Gun control advocates are praising the new law, calling it a meaningful step toward making Tennessee safe.
Earlier this year, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed similar legislation, following other states including Mississippi and Virginia last legislative session.
'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, in a release. '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.'
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'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.'
According to a release, Tennessee has the 11th-highest rate of gun deaths and the 8th-highest rate of gun homicide in the U.S. Gun violence reportedly costs Tennessee $18.0 billion each year, of which $415.5 million is paid by taxpayers.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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