Tuscaloosa County To Get Funds For Lost Revenue From Decreased Pistol Permit Sales

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) has approved grant funding for Tuscaloosa County to cover any lost revenue after a new state law went into effect Jan. 1 that repealed the state's pistol permit requirement for concealed carry.

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As Patch previously reported, the new law has come under fire from counties and municipalities for several reasons, including safety concerns for officers, a lack of penalties for certain offenders, school safety and the loss of revenue to county sheriff's offices.

While Tuscaloosa County's sheriff's office is fully funded by the County Commission, other smaller counties have expressed the impact to their budgets due to the law.

The opposition to the bill from Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy focused more on a lack of a penalty for violations of the law's "duty to inform" statute and the confusion it could cause those traveling out of Alabama who may be unaware of the handgun permit laws in other states.

Here's what Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy said last month regarding the permitless carry law in Alabama.

Indeed, among those counties approved for grant funding is Pickens County, which depends on its pistol permit sales more than neighboring Tuscaloosa County.

ALSO READ: BamaCarry Defends New Handgun Law Despite Law Enforcement Concerns

It is unclear at this time exactly how much each of the counties will receive from the grant funds, due to the law only being on the books for a month.

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