Alabama Fraudulent Firearms Purchase Prevention Signed by Governor

The Alabama Legislature’s 2011 session adjourned sine die at midnight on June 9, but not before Governor Robert Bentley signed into law House Bill 450. 

HB 450, Fraudulent Firearms Purchase Prevention legislation, sponsored by state Representative Steve Hurst (R-35), protects lawful firearm retailers from illegal gun sting operations such as those by anti-gun New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.  Bloomberg has sent hired agents into other states to attempt illegal firearm purchases in an effort to blame federally licensed firearm retailers for gun crime in New York City and around the country. 

Fraudulent Firearms Purchase Prevention’s passage came shortly after Forever Wild received a boost in early June.  Senate Bill 369, Constitutional Amendment for Forever Wild Reauthorization, was sent to Secretary Beth Chapman’s office on June 2 to be placed on the 2012 general election ballot.  SB 369, sponsored by state Senator Dick Brewbaker (R-25), if ratified by voters next year, would reauthorize the Forever Wild Land trust for a 20-year period.  Through the reauthorization of the Forever Wild Land Trust, Alabamians can experience the great wild lands and wildlife of the state.  Sportsmen have benefited immensely from this critical program, opening up tens of thousands of acres teeming with wildlife.  These lands are protected in perpetuity and will provide countless hunting opportunities for generations to come. 

Unfortunately two pro-gun bills ran out of time during the short 2011 session. 

House Bill 445, Firearms Destruction Prevention legislation sponsored by state Representative Blaine Galliher (R-30), would have required a firearm obtained by law enforcement to be transferred and sold at a public auction by the Department of Public Safety.  Prior to the sale, the Department of Public Safety would have used reasonable efforts to determine and return a firearm to its lawful owner if was lost or stolen.  Unfortunately, HB 445 never received its final vote in the Senate and instead fell victim to an all-day Senate filibuster that rendered the final calendar obsolete.  Having passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee by a voice vote earlier in the week, HB 445 had been scheduled to receive its final vote in the Alabama Senate on June 9.   HB 445 passed in the state House by a 96 to 0 vote on May 31.

After being removed from the House calendar late in the session, House Bill 516, gun owner privacy protection legislation, was unable to pass in the state House due to the lack of remaining time.  Sponsored by state Representative Micky Hammon (R-4), HB 516 would have prohibited medical practitioners from requiring patients to divulge information about private firearm ownership.  HB 516 would have also prevented practitioners from denying medical care to patients who refuse to disclose such information about firearms, ammunition or storage methods.

Thank you to all who answered the call in support of these critical measures.  The NRA will continue to push these issues and other Second Amendment items during the 2012 legislative session.