Pro-Gun Reform Law Takes Effect In Alabama

Tuesday marked the effective date of Alabama House Bill 47, a significant package of pro-gun reforms signed into law by Republican Gov. Robert Bentley back in June.

According to NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, the new law—which had strong bipartisan support in the legislature—repealed Alabama’s pistol registration requirement, narrowed a prohibited facility’s authority to ban firearms outside of its building, and amended the state’s unduly restrictive minor possession of pistols law.

According to NRA-ILA, the repeal of the pistol registration scheme does away with an unnecessarily duplicative and burdensome intrusion on law-abiding handgun owners. Now, FFLs are no longer required to separately record and submit all pistol purchases to state and local law enforcement databases, as the law previously specified. Also, the new law requires that existing records within statewide or local databases be destroyed.

HB 47 also bolstered self-defense rights for Alabamans. Before the law took effect, law-abiding gun owners were prohibited from possessing a firearm on hospital “premises,” including parking lots and parking garages. The new law remedied this issue by amending the prohibition to only apply to the interior confines of the hospital building, or “facility.” 
According to NRA-ILA, the repeal of the pistol registration scheme does away with an unnecessarily duplicative and burdensome intrusion on law-abiding handgun owners. 
Also according to NRA-ILA, the law now allows a minor, under the age of 18, to possess a handgun under circumstances where they have permission from a parent or legal guardian who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, providing the minor is:

• Attending a hunter education or firearm safety course under the supervision of an adult who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law;
• Engaging in practice in the use of a firearm or target shooting at an established range under the supervision of an adult who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law;
• Engaging in an organized competition using a firearm or participating in or practicing for a performance that uses guns as part of the performance;
• Hunting or fishing pursuant to a valid license, if required, and the person has the license in his or her possession; has written permission of the owner or legal possessor of the land where the activities are being conducted; and the pistol, when loaded, is carried in a manner discernible by ordinary observation;
• On real property under the control of the minor’s parent, legal guardian, or grandparent;
• Acting in the line of duty as a member of the Armed Services; or
• Traveling to or from one of the above-referenced locations or activities; has written permission to possess the pistol by his or her parent or legal guardian; and the pistol is unloaded, locked in a compartment or container that is in or affixed securely to the motor vehicle and is out of reach of the driver and any passenger.

Thanks to Gov. Bentley and supporters of the measure in the Alabama legislature for further expanding freedom in the state.