Alabama: NRA-Supported Omnibus Firearms Bill to be Considered in Committee on Wednesday, February 6

NRA-supported Senate Bill 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), will be heard in the Senate Business and Labor Committee tomorrow, February 6, at 2:00 p.m. This hearing will take place in Room 610 of the Alabama State House.

SB 129, omnibus firearms reform legislation, 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 on 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.

Please contact members of the Senate Business and Labor Committee IMMEDIATELY and respectfully urge them to vote for SB 129. Contact information can be found below.

Senate Business and Labor Committee:

Senator Rusty Glover (Chairperson)
(334) 242-7886

Senator Slade Blackwell
(334) 242-7851

Senator Priscilla Dunn
(334) 242-7793

Senator Marc Keahey
(334) 242-7843

Senator Shadrack McGill
(334) 242-7858

Senator Clay Scofield
(334) 242-7876

Senator Rodger Mell Smitherman
(334) 242-7870

Senator Cam Ward
(334) 242-7873