Is constitutional carry coming to Alabama? If State Sen. Gerald Allen’s Senate Bill 24 is passed, it will be. The legislation would remove the permit requirement for law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense. The bill is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 1.
While many applaud legislation that would enable citizens to readily defend themselves, not everyone supports the bill. One adversary is Pickens County Sheriff David Abston. Despite his claim that, “As a sheriff, I firmly back the Second Amendment,” Abston stands in opposition to the bill for a surprising reason.
“This money generated from the pistol permit goes to buy our uniforms, equipment, our firearms, our training, our ammunition to train, and to send people to the police academy,” Abston said. “Once you take away that funding, where’s the money going to come from?”
Abston’s refusal to back “permitless” carry over concerns of loss of revenue is absurd. Potential loss of life should far outweigh budget constraints.
