It was my understanding that without a carry permit you could only drive to the gunsmith or the range with a handgun, but otherwise had to have a permit to have a handgun in the car. Have I been wrong all this time? I have my permit, but do not want to tell people without one wrong info.
Yes you have. Alabama law clearly states that a permit is required to have a handgun in a vehicle except when (1) transporting home(or to your business) after purchase,(2) taking to a gunsmith for repair or update or (3) when moving to a new residence.
Code of Alabama 1975 Section 13A-11-74 - License to carry pistol in vehicle or concealed on person - Exceptions.
The provisions of Section 13A-11-73 shall not apply to marshals, sheriffs, prison and jail wardens and their regularly employed deputies, policemen and other law enforcement officers of any state or political subdivision thereof, or to the members of the army, navy or marine corps of the United States or of the national guard, or to the members of the national guard organized reserves or state guard organizations when on duty or going to or from duty, or to the regularly enrolled members of any organization duly authorized to purchase or receive such weapons from the United States or from this state; provided, that such members are at or are going to or from their places of assembly or target practices, or to officers or employees of the United States duly authorized to carry a pistol, or to any person engaged in manufacturing, repairing or dealing in pistols, or the agent or representative of such person possessing, using, or carrying a pistol in the usual or ordinary course of such business, or to any common carrier, except taxicabs, licensed as a common carrier, or to any person permitted by law to possess a pistol while carrying it unloaded in a secure wrapper, from the place of purchase to his home or place of business, or to or from a place of repair or in moving from one place of abode or business to another.
(Acts 1936, Ex. Sess., No. 82, p. 51; Code 1940, T. 14, §176; Acts 1947, No. 616, p. 463, §4; Acts 1951, No. 784, p. 1378; Code 1975, §13-6-154.)
Notice the to and from range exemption does not apply to individuals who are not members of the above organizations.