Alabama: NRA-Supported Omnibus Firearms Bill Referred to Senate Working Committee

On February 6, NRA-supported Senate Bill 129 was heard by the Senate Business and Labor Committee.  After favorable consideration, SB 129 was referred to a Senate working committee which will meet the week of the 11th.  Your NRA will play an active role in this working committee to ensure that the main provisions of SB 129 remain intact and any changes to this legislation are consistent with the intent of the bill.

SB 129, sponsored by state Senator Scott Beason (R-17) and cosponsored by state senators Rusty Glover (R-34), Jimmy Holley (R-31), Bill Holtzclaw (R-2), Del Marsh (R-12) and Paul Sanford (R-7), seeks to restore and protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners in Alabama by addressing the following issues:

• No employer may prohibit the otherwise lawful possession, transportation or storage of firearms or ammunition that is kept out of sight within the locked or attended private means of conveyance of an invitee who is otherwise permitted to operate or park the conveyance on the property.
• Removes the requirement to obtain a pistol permit to carry a pistol in a vehicle.
• Shifts the current “May Issue” concealed carry permitting system to a “Shall Issue” permitting system and requires that a sheriff must issue the permit within thirty days as long as the person applying for the permit is not prohibited by federal law.
• The permit to carry a concealed pistol shall be good for one to five years (decided by the person seeking the permit to carry).
• States that sheriffs shall use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to run a background check on a concealed pistol permit applicant.
• Allows for all other valid state-issued permits to carry a concealed firearm to be recognized in Alabama.
• Strengthens Alabama’s current firearms preemption by giving the state legislature complete control over regulation and policy pertaining to firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories in order to ensure that such regulation and policy is applied uniformly throughout the state.

At the conclusion of this working committee, Senate Bill 129 will likely be considered again by the Senate Business and Labor Committee during the week of February 18, so please stay tuned to www.nraila.org for updates on the status of this pro-gun reform.