The bill SB32 Engrossed amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to establish a clear definition of "machinegun" and implement mandatory enhanced sentences for crimes involving such firearms. A machinegun is defined as any firearm capable of automatically firing more than one shot without manual reloading by a single trigger function, including parts intended for conversion. The bill also specifies that devices designed to increase a firearm's rate of fire, which do not allow a semiautomatic firearm to fire more than two shots without reloading, are excluded from this definition. Furthermore, the bill introduces severe penalties for crimes involving machineguns, including life imprisonment without parole for murder committed with a machinegun, and reclassifies manslaughter and assault offenses involving machineguns as Class A felonies.

In addition to the enhanced penalties, the bill includes provisions that protect licensed healthcare providers from criminal liability when providing medical care that may inadvertently affect an unborn child. It also ensures that victims of domestic violence or sexual assault are not prosecuted for injuries to an unborn child resulting from such crimes. The bill makes grammatical adjustments to existing legal language, such as replacing "he or she" with "he or she does any of the following" in the definitions of assault, and introduces a new definition for "utility worker." The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, reflecting a legislative intent to address gun violence more stringently.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13A-6-1, 13A-6-2, 13A-6-3, 13A-6-20, 13A-6-21
Engrossed: 13A-6-1, 13A-6-2, 13A-6-3, 13A-6-20, 13A-6-21