The Alabama state Senate on Tuesday passed an NRA-backed “permitless” carry measure—Senate Bill 24—by a 25-6 vote. The bill now heads to the House.
Put simply, SB 24 would eliminate the requirement to obtain a permit from the government for a law-abiding person to lawfully carry a firearm for self-defense.
“Every citizen should have the right to bear arms without paying a fee,” Republican state Sen. Gerald Allen, sponsor of the measure, told the Associated Press. Allen argues—quite logically—that Alabama is an open carry state, so it makes no sense to allow a person to carry a gun on a hip holster in public but require a permit if the person puts on a jacket or gets in a car.
As with most states considering permitless carry, Alabama would leave the permitting system in place for those who wish to participate in reciprocity agreements with other states.
