The thing is I don't really believe there will be a big drop in the permits. You still need one to CCW over state lines.

Oh they screamed like little bitches when that changed.

Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, a co-sponsor of House Bill 414, said the bill will still allow Alabama residents to get a concealed carry permit so they can carry firearms out of state, but it will not require a permit for concealed carry within the state.

Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, is the sponsor of Senate Bill 24, which also eliminates the requirement of a pistol permit.

“If I had a pistol in my truck, which I do, and my wife took my truck to take the dog to the vet and was pulled over with my pistol in there, she would violate the law. It shouldn’t be that way,” Crawford said.

He argues the Second Amendment gives citizens the right to carry a gun in a vehicle just as they have a right to keep a gun in a residence.

The requirement of a gun permit, Crawford said, violates the Second Amendment.

Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely said courts have ruled existing restrictions on guns, including the permit requirement, are constitutional.

“If they claim no law can be made to infringe upon these rights, then how can we prevent people from carrying (a firearm) into the Statehouse?” Blakely said.

Blakely said many have told him the permits should be eliminated because “criminals carry guns anyway.”

“That’s like saying, ‘Let’s not have theft laws because people are going to steal anyway,’ ” he said. “It’s infuriating.”

Decatur police spokesman Lt. Proncey Robertson said the bills could make traffic stops where the driver is in possession of a gun more lengthy and complicated.

“If the driver has a permit, I know he has passed a background check and is clear to carry a gun. If we no longer have permits, then I have to call him in and run him through our system to determine if he’s allowed to have that gun or not,” Robertson said.

Crawford said most law enforcement opposition to the bill is about the money gun permits bring in.

“I think the real reason they oppose it is because it’s a money thing,” Crawford said.

But Blakely said lost revenue is not the reason for his opposition.

“Yes, that money is beneficial for providing more training and equipment,” he said. “Many rural departments couldn’t go without that money. But for me, it’s not about the money. This bill takes away a valuable tool from law enforcement.”

Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said not only should permits be required, but they should include an educational component.

Johnson said he has personally witnessed people who purchase guns without understanding how to even load and unload them.

A new statute requiring citizens to complete a firearm safety training course before getting a permit is needed, he said.

“Many people do not understand how to properly care for a gun and the dangers and liability associated with using one,” Robertson said.

Crawford said concerns about the House bill are exaggerated, as it does not change existing law prohibiting some people from possessing a gun, including those of "unsound mind" and those convicted of a violent crime or domestic abuse.

SB24 came out of committee March 7, and HB414 remains in committee.

http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/local/concealed-carry-bills-cause-law-enforcement-concern/article_21d91cdd-8b78-515d-83a2-fac094c1a7f3.html

“There’s not a Republican or Democratic sheriff in the state of Alabama that’s against the Second Amendment, we just don’t think everybody should be able to carry a gun."

I doubt most people would even know the law passed, and renew by mail, anyhoo.

OZARK – The city’s mayor and police chief joined the Dale County Sheriff and other elected and law enforcement officials to express opposition to two bills currently in the Alabama Legislature.

Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson and Ozark Police Chief Marlos Walker said Friday they oppose a bill that would remove the current permit requirement necessary to carry a concealed weapon in Alabama.

Senate Bill 24 would allow any citizen not previously convicted of a crime of moral turpitude or otherwise previously restricted from carrying a firearm to freely carry without first getting a permit.

Many gun rights groups support the bill, arguing that citizens should not first have to obtain a permit in order to exercise their second amendment rights. Some law enforcement agencies support the bill as well.

Some do not, however. Olson said the bill hamstrings law enforcement.

“A gun in the hands of a good person is a good thing,” Olson said. “A gun in the hands of a bad person is a very bad thing.”

Olson said law enforcement routinely uses the permit restriction to remove guns from people during traffic stops and other encounters with law enforcement, then later learned the person had a prior criminal record.

“You are talking about taking a necessary tool away from us that we use on a daily basis,” Olson said.

Walker said his opposition should not be construed as anti- Second Amendment.

“This is not for the good people, the good citizens,” Walker said. “The bad people get the benefit if this bill passes.”

Supporters of the bill claim law enforcement agencies opposed to the bill fear losing the revenue generated from pistol permit fees. Olson disagreed.

“It’s not about revenue. If you take away the tools we have right now, you handicap law enforcement even more,” Olson said.

http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/government/ozark-mayor-others-in-dale-county-oppose-concealed-weapon-pharmacy/article_06aefbb8-0b34-11e7-915a-4bfcf4696392.html


Why do they lie?

NEW BROCKTON –Sheriff Dave Sutton stood before the Coffee County Commission Monday morning and made a plea – not just to the commissioners, but to all Coffee County residents – to contact state representatives and senators to urge them to vote “no” on an upcoming gun bill in the Alabama senate.

“It is not about our second amendment rights, this is about public safety,” Sutton said. “This is a very unsafe bill. It’s going to get some people hurt and put law enforcement in a bind.”

If Alabama Senate Bill No. 24 is passed it would make it legal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill with a 6-3 vote on March 1 and now it will go before the House of Representatives for a final vote at a future date.

Many Alabama law enforcement officers – including Sutton – have publicly come out in opposition to the bill citing safety as a major concern behind the opposition.

Currently in Alabama, to carry a concealed weapon in public or in a vehicle one must possess a valid concealed weapon permit, but if this bill passes it would make a permit unnecessary.

“This bill would repeal certain restrictions on the carrying or possession of a firearm on certain property or in a motor vehicle by persons with or without a concealed pistol permit,” the bill reads. “This bill would also revise certain restrictions on the carrying or possession of firearms at certain locations.”

Convicted felons would still be prohibited from carrying a weapon and concealed weapons will still be prohibited from certain locations like courthouses, prisons, athletic events and police stations under the bill, however.

“I would ask you to contact your local representatives and senators and ask them to vote “no” on this bill,” Sutton said. “Again, this is not about second amendment rights, it’s about safety. This is going to take us backwards instead of carrying us forward as we move forward to protect our citizens.”
http://www.dothaneagle.com/enterprise_ledger/news/sheriff-asks-residents-to-contact-state-officials-over-gun-bill/article_81267994-08bd-11e7-9101-0f95c028d2cd.html

Good morning Senator, I'm writing to you this day concerning SB 24. I've been a law enforcement officer in Alabama since 1991. These sheriffs and chief of police do not speak for the average street officer or deputy concerning SB 24. Every officer I personally know of supports the rights of citizens to carry a firearm without the permit requirement. Your average patrol officer knows the permit law does nothing to prevent criminals from illegally carrying a firearm. I saw an article quoting Chief Palmer of Pelham stating if this law passes it will put officers in danger. The reality is Officer Philip Davis of the Pelham Police Department was murdered by a man with a valid concealed weapon permit.

It's ironic that every sheriff that is quoted concerning SB 24 states it's a "safety issue" but all admit it's their unaccountable slush fund is at stake. Personally I do not believe there will be big dip in permit sales. People will still need them for traveling across state lines.  

I urge you and the other members of the Alabama Legislature to support and quickly pass SB 24 into law. Thank you for your time and support.

Thanks Michael. I supported this bill in committee and am fully committed
to voting for it when it comes up for a vote on the floor of the Senate.

Respectfully,

Cam Ward
State Senator- District 14
Home- 205-664-1066
Montgomery- 334-242-7873
District Office- 205-620-6610
www.camward.com
Twitter- @SenCamWard

Spring 2017 Editorial Board

Alabama Senate Bill 24 would allow people to carry a concealed firearm without a permit within state lines. It was recently approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and it’s now on the way to the Senate floor. We hope to see the bill’s demise. If it passes, we are concerned Alabama will become a more dangerous place to live.

It would loosen restrictions on carrying guns near courthouses, jails, prisons and other government facilities. Additionally, gun owners would be allowed to carry firearms at organized protests.

Allowing this is especially bad given the typical context protests operate within: an atmosphere of discontent and sometimes anger that could culminate into violence.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Lineville, defends it by claiming it would serve to protect the Second Amendment. Specifically, Allen claims removing the need for a permit and the background check getting a permit entails would clarify to people their right to bear arms is given to them by the Constitution.

Removing background checks from the process is a move that will serve to place more guns into the hands of people who should not have them.

It’ll also make it easier for good citizens to carry guns without other people knowing, which has been the center of the message Sen. Allen is conveying.

It is our view that the disastrous consequences of having more guns in the hands of people who may be mentally or emotionally unfit to have concealed weapons outweighs the convenience of everyone else who wants to have a concealed gun without having to pay a small permit fee and undergo a background check.

Lee County’s Sheriff Jay Jones also stands against the bill, stating, “It would increase the likelihood of individuals having firearms that shouldn’t have them in the first place.”

Paying a small fee of $5-20 and having to undergo a background check is a small price to pay for protecting Alabamians from gun violence, and no amount of personal convenience can diminish that fact. Moreover, to forego life-saving background checks and to disguise it to Alabama’s voters by claiming it’s what our Founding Fathers would’ve wanted is immoral.

http://www.theplainsman.com/article/2017/03/editorial-loosening-gun-regulations-isnt-the-way-to-go

Sheriffs shouldn’t profit off our Second Amendment exercise

shutterstock_436844200
Imagine if an Alabama politician introduced legislation that required citizens to pay a fee in order to attend church. He or she wouldn’t be a politician for very long. Why? We wouldn’t take kindly to government turning a profit off our exercise of constitutional rights embodied in the First Amendment.

Our reaction shouldn’t be any different when it comes to the Second Amendment. State Sen. Gerald Allen’s S.B. 24 embodies that sentiment. Among other changes, the legislation would repeal certain restrictions on carrying a firearm without a permit.

That has many sheriffs across Alabama concerned about the consequences of the bill on law enforcement. “The pistol permit is a tool used by law enforcement to quickly screen an occupant of a vehicle or a person stopped in investigative detention to determine if they are lawfully allowed to possess a concealed handgun,” wrote Madison County Sheriff Blake Dorning.

The other consequence of repealing the permit requirement is lost revenue to sheriff’s offices. According to AL.com’s Brendan Kirby, the permit fees range from $7.50 to $30 per year across Alabama’s counties.

There’s an easy compromise here: Keep the permit and remove or reduce the fee. The government shouldn’t profit off citizens exercising a constitutional right, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not helpful for law enforcement to anticipate how to engage a firearm during a stop.

It’s not a particularly heavy burden to apply for and secure a permit. Sheriff Mike Hale of Jefferson County, for example, has made the process about as easy as it could be. I dropped off my application, the sheriff’s office ran a background check and they issued me a pistol license good for five years.

While we’re at it, the process could be even easier by allowing gun dealers to issue pistol licenses when handguns are purchased. Dealers are required to run background checks on customers anyway. Why not ask if he or she would like a carry license at the same time?

Alabamians are passionate about their Second Amendment rights, but most of us don’t want to make law enforcement’s job any more difficult or dangerous than it already is. If sheriffs have safety concerns about removing the permit requirement, we should take them seriously. That said, Sen. Allen’s insistence that government shouldn’t profit off our Second Amendment exercise is right on the money.

http://www.rstreet.org/op-ed/sheriffs-shouldnt-profit-off-our-second-amendment-exercise/

Our View: Gun rights, yes; but we should outright halt Senate Bill 24

The Constitution of the United States includes the Second Amendment, and that law clearly states the right for American citizens to bear arms.

Americans also have the right to vote. But to do so, they must register first.

It should be the same for anyone desiring to carry a concealed weapon.

For that reason, the proposed Senate Bill 24 making its way through the statehouse should be defeated, despite the national wave of populism that would make it a vote-getter to support.

Our nation has voter registration in place because it serves as a preventative measure against abuse by ensuring the voter is qualified, and thus it protects the integrity of those who are; convicted felons and illegal aliens are among those who aren’t.

Likewise, requiring a permit to carry a concealed weapon is an important tool in preventing gun abuse. It is not an infringement upon Second Amendment rights, which remain fully protected and aren’t going away despite what fear-mongers spew.

Gun control and gun rights are among the top social debates in our nation and won’t be going away either anytime soon, because our constitution assures there always will be guns, and sinister or sick-minded killers assure there always will be abuse.

Debates within the debate include perceived threats to the Second Amendment such as proposed bans or limits placed on assault rifles. That and similar debates shouldn’t be confused with this one on concealed-carry permits, and here’s why:

Although laws already allow the rights to carry long-barrel firearms and open-carry, or exposed, firearms, current law requires a permit to carry a handgun that is concealed. Law-abiding citizens will have such a permit and willingly and often proudly register and serve notice that they carry.

Bad guys don’t do that. They steal guns, don’t register them, and they hide them until they commit a crime, often violent.

Therefore when a police officer investigates suspicious behavior and discovers an illegal weapon, if no permit exists, an arrest can be made. Time after time upon further investigation, authorities realized that seizing that illegal weapon helped prevent a much worse crime.

It’s like voter registration: Those who understand the privilege understand the integrity involved; those who don’t abuse it. It’s the same with being able to hide a handgun.


Every local law enforcement agency, including police chiefs who get zero funding from gun-permit revenue, is adamantly against Senate Bill 24.

These are police officers who get into the business because most are good with a gun.

If they tell us, as they are, that it is a scary thought to give criminals free reign to carry hidden weapons that can’t be tracked or accounted for under a no-permit law, then we should listen.

Otherwise, the abuse that comes will be invited, and we have enough of that already without giving a green light to more. Criminals, by nature, are lazy. Making it easier to carry a hidden gun makes it easier for violent crime.

Law-minded gun owners shouldn’t fall into the same laziness and should understand why the small monetary fee and effort to fill out a registration card matters so much to a law officer simply trying to protect us and keep stolen weapons off the street, let alone protect themselves.

Lawmakers should put an end to Senate Bill 24, and leave the law as it stands today.

http://www.oanow.com/opinion/editorials/our-view-gun-rights-yes-but-we-should-outright-halt/article_5fee9498-0802-11e7-9e03-7b6a23963e75.html

Leave gun laws as they are
Mar 20, 2017  (3)

The Alabama Legislature is on a two-week hiatus for spring break, and that may be long enough for some tempers to cool over Senate Bill 24, which would ease the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Gun rights advocates cheer it. Law enforcement personnel stand staunchly against it. We would argue that the existing law should be left as it is.

Some people argue that the permit requirement for concealed firearms is nothing more than a revenue mechanism for law enforcement. Others argue that a permit requirement is an impediment to one’s 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. Law enforcement personnel argue that the concealed carry permit is a necessary tool that helps them get illegitimate weapons off the streets.

From our perspective, the permit requirement is, at its worst, a minor annoyance – and expense – for law-abiding gun owners who want to carry their weapon in a concealed fashion. Current law allows for open-carry without a license, but it’s unusual to see such in public.

However, those who are up to no good won’t likely open-carry their weapon, and they won’t likely have subjected themselves to the background check required for a permit. This gives law enforcement personnel a mechanism to confiscate a concealed weapon, possibly preventing a crime.

The gun debate is among a handful of questions that will always be controversial, and never resolved to the satisfaction of everyone involved. Senate Bill 24, because it seems it would unintentionally benefit criminals most, should die a quiet death when the Legislature reconvenes in April.

http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/editorials/leave-gun-laws-as-they-are/article_be5d2a16-0dad-11e7-a5da-678e9a2078c1.html

Senate to vote on doing away with concealed carry permits
Tuesday, April 18th 2017, 1:34 am CDT
Tuesday, April 18th 2017, 1:34 am CDT
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Senate will vote on a legislation that would allow people to carry a concealed handgun without a getting a permit.

Senators on Tuesday evening will debate the proposal by Republican Sen. Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa.

The bill has been heavily criticized by some law enforcement officers who say the permits are needed for public safety. Allen argued that people shouldn't have to pay to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

According to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 11 states allow people to carry concealed weapons in public without a permit. Most of those states still issue concealed weapon permits, as would Alabama, for people who may want them to carry in other states.

The Senate convenes at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

http://www.wbrc.com/story/35172390/senate-to-vote-on-doing-away-with-concealed-carry-permits

Hope it passes.

Passed the Senate 25-8.

Alabama Senate passes bill to eliminate pistol permit requirement
on April 18, 2017 at 3:55 PM, updated April 18, 2017 at 4:02 PM
The Alabama Senate has passed a bill eliminating the requirement for a permit from a county sheriff to carry a concealed handgun.

The Senate passed the bill by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, after voting to cut off debate.

Some Democrats in the Senate opposed the bill and sought to amend it.

The bill passed by a vote of 25-8 and moves to the House of Representatives.
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2017/04/alabama_senate_passes_bill_to_3.html#incart_river_home

I can only imagine what the democrats tried to amend.

Check out the Madison County Sheriff position if SB24 becomes law. Wow.

Wow indeed.

"Screw with us, we'll screw with you...."

Kind of hard to respect a person who takes such a public stance.

Many law enforcement officers and deputies are critical of the bill and say permits are needed for public safety.

Birmingham Chief A.C. Roper spoke to other chiefs in Alabama and they have similar concerns.

“As I speak to chiefs across this state, there is a lot of concern because that’s a tool that we need to continue to do the things that keep our communities safe,” Chief Roper said. “Hopefully, the legislators will sit down and we can talk about this. We understand their concerns regarding fees, but we think there are other ways to go about it.”
http://wiat.com/2017/04/20/chief-roper-weighs-in-on-the-bill-allowing-concealed-carry-without-permit/

The spin is in. I have not heard any "law enforcement officers and deputies" be critical of the bill. Only Sheriffs and Chief of Police.

At the end of the day, policy or not, John Q. Law still has to answer to Sheriff (or Chief) Toe D. Party-line. 

I got into trouble for posting truths about the changes to the Shall Issue law back when it was about to be passed.

Me and my sheriff don't agree on the laws and I was told to stop being critical of him and others.

It's dead, Jim.