Last week, state Senator Shay Shelnutt (R-17) introduced Senate Bill 330. SB 330 would allow a Sheriff to issue or renew a pistol permit to or for a person residing in any county in the state. This bill enables residents to obtain permits in neighboring counties, where fees may be significantly less expensive.
SB 330 was drafted and introduced in acknowledgement of one simple truth: citizens of Alabama should not be held to disparate standards in exchange for the ability to lawfully exercise the same fundamental right.
A pistol permit issued in Jefferson County ($7.50 a year) confers the exact same right across the state as a pistol permit issued in Baldwin County ($20.00 a year). Yet, over a 5-year period those rights cost approximately $62.50 more in Baldwin County. The permittee receives no additional benefit for this more expensive permit. As a result, the counties that charge excessive fees are simply generating revenue from a small group of law-abiding residents. The NRA believes that pistol permit fees should only reflect the actual cost of fulfilling all statutorily mandated responsibilities associated with the permitting process; any financial obligation in excess is a revenue generating tax. Your fundamental right to self-defense should not be held hostage in exchange for excessive taxes.
Stay tuned to your email inbox and www.nraila.org for further updates on this bill.
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