Tuscaloosa Lawmaker Renews Push For 'Constitutional Carry' Handgun Bill

MONTGOMERY, AL — One Tuscaloosa-area lawmaker is renewing his push to repeal permit requirements for concealed carry handgun owners in Alabama.

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More specifically, Senate Bill 1 — authored by Sen. Gerald Allen, a Tuscaloosa Republican — 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."

Open carry of a handgun is permitted in Alabama without a license, with detractors of concealed carry permits arguing that they only serve as an additional revenue stream for county sheriffs, who are the custodians of concealed carry permits in Alabama. This is viewpoint regularly expressed by Second Amendment advocacy groups like Tuscaloosa-based BamaCarry.

As Patch reported last February, Allen has made several failed attempts in the past to get similar pieces of legislation passed, stating that Alabama citizens shouldn't have to pay a fee or purchase a permit to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

What's more, the proposed measure is not aimed to block all permits, Allen has argued in the past, as permits would still be required for handgun owners crossing state lines with their guns.

Conversely, organizations like the Alabama Sheriff's Association have been unwavering in its position that no one should be able to have a firearm in a car without a permit and that the law would only result in more guns on the street. In their perspective, the law would add more uncertainty to an already dangerous job for law enforcement.

Still, The National Association for Gun Rights celebrated the pre-filed pieces of legislation ahead of the beginning of the 2022 Alabama Legislative Session on Jan. 11.

The openly pro-gun advocacy group says at least 40 Alabama state representatives are now on record supporting what they call "Constitutional Carry" legislation, the House bill of which was cosponsored by Rep. Andrew Sorrell and Rep. Shane Stringer.

In the Senate, Allen's bill was joined by a similar bill from by Sen. Tim Melson.

President of the National Association for Gun Rights Dudley Brown expressed his hope that the controversial measures will finally gain traction and make it to the governor's desk, despite the multiple failed attempts in the past.

“But the citizens of Alabama must keep the pressure on their elected officials and urge them to make Alabama the next Constitutional Carry state,” he said.

These conservative pro-gun activists define "Constitutional Carry" as the ability for any law-abiding adult who is legally able to possess a handgun to carry that handgun openly or concealed, without having to pay a tax or obtain a government permit. This is the case in 21 states, the group points out, including Mississippi and Tennessee.

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