MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — Governor Kay Ivey ceremonially signed her ‘Safe Alabama” bill package on Thursday. With her signature, Gov. Ivey banned Glock switches and expanded police immunity in the state. While law enforcement and leaders are excited, some people expressed concerns about one of the bills.
One bill makes it a crime to possess machine gun conversion devices in the state. Another makes law enforcement immune from lawsuits unless they clearly violate someone’s civil rights.
Gov. Ivey said Alabama is the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation. “I’m proud to be a part of it,” she said. “Public safety is important. We’ve taken steps to make it easier for police and law enforcement to do their jobs and do it effectively.”
Another bill expanded Aniah’s Law, allowing judges to deny bail for more kinds of violent offenses. Hal Taylor, secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, said these statutes will increase recruitment.
“If I do my job properly, and somebody doesn’t agree with what happened, I could possibly be in jail? And now, they’ve got something to know, that somebody’s there with them to back them if they do have a use-of-force case?” said Taylor. “It’s a gamechanger for us.”
But, Rep. Curtis Travis (D-Tuscaloosa) said that protection for use-of-force cases could actually have consequences.
“Just hiring people, just because they say, ‘I want to be a police officer,” I think that’s the wrong attitude to take. You’ve got some people whose attitude and position will not follow what you will strive for as a proper law enforcement,” said Travis. “You know?”
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said the police immunity bill, and the package overall, will help retain more police officers.
“I think that one’s positive,” he said. “Both sides of the aisle had a chance to look at it, so I believe it’s going to be positive for law enforcement officers across the state. We’ve had some issues in metropolitan areas where crime has spiked, at a point where it’s hurt recruiting businesses and bringing industry into the state.”
The bill expanding police immunity will take effect on October 1. Gov. Ivey said a safe Alabama is a secure future for Alabama.
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