Urges House to take Swift Action on Constitutional Carry Bill.
Fairfax, VA – -(Ammoland.com)- The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) congratulates the Alabama State Senate for passing Senate Bill 24 – a Constitutional Carry bill that would expand the options of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves. The NRA-ILA is asking its members and supporters in Alabama to urge state representatives to take swift action to pass this bill and send it to Governor Kay Ivey. SB 24 passed the senate this week by a vote of 25-6.
“Alabama’s Constitutional Carry bill recognizes that law-abiding citizens have the right to defend themselves in the manner that is most convenient for them,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA-ILA. “Under this bill, law-abiding citizens would no longer face government-mandated time delays and taxes to exercise their right to self-defense.”
SB 24 would eliminate the requirement to obtain a permit in order to lawfully carry a firearm. The right of law-abiding adults to defend themselves in public should not be conditioned on government-mandated time delays and taxes.
Before it can become law, SB 24 must first clear three hurdles: pass out of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee; pass out of the full House; be signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey.
Fact: Twelve states – Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, New Hampshire, and North Dakota– already allow law-abiding individuals to carry a concealed handgun without a government-issued permit. (Montana allows Permitless Carry for all areas outside city limits – 99.4% of the state.)
Fact: States that have adopted Permitless Carry laws have not seen a drop in the number of concealed carry permits issued. That is because many gun owners who travel with their firearms for self-defense want to take advantage or concealed carry reciprocity agreements with other states, which often require a concealed carry permit from their home state.
About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
35 states is the magic number. If 35 states pass Constitutional carry laws, then the rest have to start allowing it. That’s how it worked for gay marriage anyway. The key argument in the Supreme Court was that with that many states allowing it, the the rest of the states should recognize it also. Just saying…
I am a resident of Alabama and obtained by first concealed carry permit in 1995. Never have I had to raise a gun to protect myself or anyone else for that matter. Hopefully I never will have to. However, I want to be ready to do so if needed. As a law abiding citizen I support the constitutional carry bill for obvious reasons. The problem we are having is Alabama Sheriff departments that are threatening not to issue any permits if the constitutional carry bill becomes law. At present those permits are still needed to carry legally when traveling in… Read more »
I also live in Alabama, permit since 1987. The problem, at least in Alabama, is as you stated: The Alabama Sheriff’s Association. If you follow the money, you will find that the county’s are not accountable for the permit “fees”, and those fees can be spent at the discretion of the Sheriff. Alabama is a “shall issue” state, at least now. I have no doubt that should their cash cow dry up, they will stop issuing simply to be vindictive. or more likely, make the cost prohibitive.
What in the U.S. Constitution gives any state or federal government the authority to require their permission to bear arms in the first place?
Absolutely nothing; but reality always makes a mess of what should be, and the law of unintended consequences applies in every human activity. We’re forced to live in the “what is” world, not the “what should be” world. I’d be hard pressed to name one thing that politicians haven’t, eventually, messed up, or turned to their own personal advantage in some way.
The “law of unintended consequences” is still “on the books”. Should reciprocity, at the federal level, ever happen, how will “don’t need a permit” states be included? Even sooner, what about the states that now honor Alabama’s carry permits? IMO, we are going down a “rabbit hole”. We won’t need a permit at “home”, but what are they going to charge for a “permit” that meets reciprocity standards?
You make a good point. I wonder if reciprocity could be allowed if a simple proof of residence in a permitless state could be proven (Driver’s License or other State issued ID just like you would need to cash a check)? Not the answer that I want it to be, which would be Constitutional Carry for ALL American Citizens, but maybe it would address your point.