The state of Alabama will begin allowing people to carry concealed handguns without a permit on Jan. 1.
The new state law states that an officer can still “temporarily take a weapon if it is necessary for the safety of the officer or others. The weapon must be returned unless there is an arrest, or the person is posing a safety threat.”
The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action said that constitutional carry is now legal in 25 states.
“It’s going to be a big step to help the average law-abiding citizen to keep them from having to go through the hoops of getting a permit to carry their weapons,” said Rep. Shane Stringer, the legislation’s sponsor. “It’s not going [to] change who can and cannot carry a gun. People that are prohibited now are still prohibited.”
The bill was quickly signed by Republican Governor Kay Ivey as soon as it was passed. However, it faced opposition from the Alabama Sheriffs Association, which claimed that the law could cause crime to rise and stop individuals from voluntarily obtaining permits.
“It’s sad that certain sheriffs are actually fighting against restoring gun rights to law-abiding Alabamians,” Dudley Brown, National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR)’s president, said last January. Constitutional Carry laws simply recognize what we all know to be true – that the government should not force you to get a permit in order to carry a handgun.”
“Spreading lies and inciting fear in an attempt to kill a pro-gun bill is the same kind of underhanded tactics we see from radical leftists across the nation,” Brown continued. “It’s a shame that many sheriffs in Alabama have resorted to this. That’s why we’re mobilizing our members in supporters in Alabama – cranking up the pressure to make Alabama the 22nd Constitutional Carry state.”
Shortly after the law was passed, Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones, president of the Alabama Sheriffs’ Association, urged people to still get permits.
“Maintaining an Alabama concealed carry permit is wise when traveling out of state; reciprocity applies — other states may require non-residents to have a permit from their state of residence.”
