The bill amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to define "machinegun" and establish 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, along with parts intended for conversion into machineguns. The bill clarifies that devices that increase a firearm's rate of fire but do not allow a semiautomatic firearm to fire more than two shots without reloading are not classified as machineguns. It also introduces severe penalties for crimes involving machineguns, including life imprisonment without parole for murder committed with a machinegun, depending on the age of the offender.

Additionally, the bill reclassifies manslaughter and assault offenses involving machineguns, designating manslaughter as a Class A felony with a mandatory life sentence without parole if caused by a machinegun. First-degree assault is similarly classified as a Class A felony under the same circumstances, while second-degree assault is also elevated to a Class A felony. The bill includes various deletions and insertions to existing legal language to clarify definitions and responsibilities, such as updating pronouns for clarity. The act is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2025, following its passage in the Senate.

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