The Alabama chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action issued the following statement after lawmakers from the Alabama House and Senate concurred on a conference committee substitute for HB272, dangerous legislation that would allow people to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public without a permit or background check. The bill now heads to Governor Ivey’s desk, who will have six days to veto or sign it into law.
“One thing has been made crystal clear — Alabama lawmakers will stop at nothing to appease the gun lobby,” said Paula Wilson, a volunteer with the Alabama chapter of Moms Demand Action. “They’re willing to do the bidding of extremists, even if it means jeopardizing the lives of our families and first responders. They have chosen violence over public safety, and now it’s on Governor Ivey to heed the calls of law enforcement and community members and stop this reckless bill from becoming law.”
Throughout this legislative session and the previous one, Alabama law enforcement have been vocal opponents of permitless carry legislation. While the conference committee report includes an amendment that would allow sheriffs in each county to apply for grants to make up for any revenue collection deficit from removing the permitting requirement, the Alabama Sheriffs’ Association and the Alabama Police Chiefs Association have made clear that the true problem with permitless is the risk it poses to public safety. According to the Montgomery Advertiser, the Alabama Sheriffs’ Association said it denied 6,000 concealed carry permits last year to people considered unfit for a concealed carry license.
Alabama scores only 18 out of 100 for gun law strength while suffering the fifth-worst gun violence rate in the country. The concealed carry permit requirement is one of Alabama’s only remaining foundational gun safety laws, and eliminating it would only serve to exacerbate Alabama’s gun violence crisis.
In an average year, 1,090 people die by guns in the state, and 3,422 more are wounded. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Alabama. More information about gun violence in Alabama is available here.
