There is package of good gun law changes that the NRA is trying to get passed in the state:
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Senate Bill 129 and House Bill 55
No employer may prohibit the otherwise lawful possession, transportation or storage of firearms or ammunition that is kept out of sight within the locked or attended private means of conveyance of an invitee who is otherwise permitted to operate or park the conveyance on the property.
Removes the requirement to obtain a pistol permit to carry a pistol in a vehicle.
Shifts the current “May Issue” concealed carry permitting system to a “Shall Issue” permitting system and requires that a sheriff must issue the permit within thirty days as long as the person applying for the permit is not prohibited by federal law.
The permit to carry a concealed pistol shall be good for one to five years (decided by the person seeking the permit to carry).
States that sheriffs shall use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to run a background check on a concealed pistol permit applicant.
Allows for all other valid state-issued permits to carry a concealed firearm to be recognized in Alabama.
Strengthens Alabama’s current firearms preemption by giving the state legislature complete control over regulation and policy pertaining to firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories in order to ensure that such regulation and policy is applied uniformly throughout the state.
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Please write your Representatives and Senators NOW about it.
Find their contact info here:
Contact info by zip code
Letter I wrote:
Dear XXXXX,
As a resident of Alabama, I wanted to urge you to support House Bill 55 / Senate Bill 129. Alabama's gun laws are in need of reform. They are still tainted by the racist ideas of long ago.
Among the problems the bill addresses:
Carrying guns for protection is a right protected by the Alabama state constitution. However, current law allows a Sherriff to deny any person of a concealed carry permit for ANY reason whatsoever! In the past this enabled racist Sherriffs to deny carry permits to black Alabamians, including Martin Luther King. Today, it is still just as open for abuse by Sherriffs as it ever was. Sherriffs may also create any irrational restrictions on permits they want, with no oversight.
It is totally illegal for a person to transport a pistol, even one unloaded and locked up, to a pistol range, unless the person has a pistol carry permit. This makes no sense; the law is undoubtedly violated hundreds of times a day in the state by innocent people who have no idea it is actually illegal to lock an unloaded pistol in your trunk and take it to a shooting range without state permission.
Our pistol permits are only good for one year. This is a completely pointless administrative burden for everyone.
Employers can fire us if we keep a pistol locked in our cars in a company parking lot. Even though I have a permit, I can't carry on my long drive to work because of this. It's none of our employers business if we want to keep a pistol in our car, any more than it is there business if we want to keep a Bible in our car.
Please vote for this bill in the same form the NRA is requesting. Please let me know your position on this bill.
Sincerely,
BTR
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Senate Bill 129 and House Bill 55
No employer may prohibit the otherwise lawful possession, transportation or storage of firearms or ammunition that is kept out of sight within the locked or attended private means of conveyance of an invitee who is otherwise permitted to operate or park the conveyance on the property.
Removes the requirement to obtain a pistol permit to carry a pistol in a vehicle.
Shifts the current “May Issue” concealed carry permitting system to a “Shall Issue” permitting system and requires that a sheriff must issue the permit within thirty days as long as the person applying for the permit is not prohibited by federal law.
The permit to carry a concealed pistol shall be good for one to five years (decided by the person seeking the permit to carry).
States that sheriffs shall use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to run a background check on a concealed pistol permit applicant.
Allows for all other valid state-issued permits to carry a concealed firearm to be recognized in Alabama.
Strengthens Alabama’s current firearms preemption by giving the state legislature complete control over regulation and policy pertaining to firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories in order to ensure that such regulation and policy is applied uniformly throughout the state.
---------
Please write your Representatives and Senators NOW about it.
Find their contact info here:
Contact info by zip code
Letter I wrote:
Dear XXXXX,
As a resident of Alabama, I wanted to urge you to support House Bill 55 / Senate Bill 129. Alabama's gun laws are in need of reform. They are still tainted by the racist ideas of long ago.
Among the problems the bill addresses:
Carrying guns for protection is a right protected by the Alabama state constitution. However, current law allows a Sherriff to deny any person of a concealed carry permit for ANY reason whatsoever! In the past this enabled racist Sherriffs to deny carry permits to black Alabamians, including Martin Luther King. Today, it is still just as open for abuse by Sherriffs as it ever was. Sherriffs may also create any irrational restrictions on permits they want, with no oversight.
It is totally illegal for a person to transport a pistol, even one unloaded and locked up, to a pistol range, unless the person has a pistol carry permit. This makes no sense; the law is undoubtedly violated hundreds of times a day in the state by innocent people who have no idea it is actually illegal to lock an unloaded pistol in your trunk and take it to a shooting range without state permission.
Our pistol permits are only good for one year. This is a completely pointless administrative burden for everyone.
Employers can fire us if we keep a pistol locked in our cars in a company parking lot. Even though I have a permit, I can't carry on my long drive to work because of this. It's none of our employers business if we want to keep a pistol in our car, any more than it is there business if we want to keep a Bible in our car.
Please vote for this bill in the same form the NRA is requesting. Please let me know your position on this bill.
Sincerely,
BTR
