Alabama - How are they for gun rights?

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BobTheTomato

BobTheTomato

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So I took a job in Alabama. I know they have open carry :evil: . How is the state in general? I will be living in Shelby county. Also does anyone have any good state specific forums?

Thanks
 
Never lived there, but Guns & Ammo recently listed the state at #7 out of the entire country:

"Alabama is not officially a Shall-Issue CCW state, but citizens are rarely turned down. Open carry is legal with some exceptions. There are no restrictions on MSRs or standard capacity magazines. Alabama has a Stand Your Ground law with no duty to retreat."

Read more: http://www.gunsandammo.com/2013/03/14/ga-ranks-the-best-states-for-gun-owners-in-2013/#ixzz2V0UqqpGJ

As far as state specific sites, a web search might find you something useful. One drawback, their college football teams are pretty awful.
 
You'll like it. Already been spelled out but we're an open carry state, permit required for concealed and pretty much shall issue although its not exactly written that way.

The state runs some target ranges at different WMAs. The only thing you really need to know outside general range rules is that a hunting or fishing license is required.
 
Well even after the new bill passed, not technically shall issue, I like the way the sponsor of the bill put it after the conference committee compromise.... we are "shmay" issue. Basically we now have a way to address it if we are denied. That said, Madison county pretty much gives you the permit if you pass the background check. Thank at a 2a rally the chief deputy said they had something like 600 applications each month above normal so it is running a bit slow.

Was just out the WMA shooting this morning. Have a couple of decent ranges inside 45 minutes of my house at WMAs. All you need is a hunting license and you can pick up a Heritage license for $10. There are a couple of private ranges nearby.

Haven't really spent much time in B'ham shooting, but there are some gun shows down there, and a gun store I've heard of with an indoor range, republican party had their election day party there.

You should enjoy it. I think we aren't gonna lose any gun rights anytime soon.
 
Met some guys from Texas a few weeks ago. They saw a guy OC'ing and were discussing it amongst themselves. I overheard that they didn't know OC was allowed as they had just moved here. Introduced myself, asked where they moved from and told em, "Welcome to Alabama!"
 
Lived in just outside Mobile many years, there is very little to dislike. I never saw open carry except for hunters and such, cc very common. Biggest worry is that the rest of the country will discover the deep south.
 
So I took a job in Alabama. I know they have open carry . How is the state in general? I will be living in Shelby county. Also does anyone have any good state specific forums?
Click to expand...

Excellent carry laws, I believe residency establishment is required (6 months?) prior to qualifying for a pistol permit, if you have an existing permit from your home state, that requirement can be waived as I understand it.

Open carry is allowed, though hassles can ensue due to it. After August 1, the law changes to say "the mere carrying of a visible, holstered or secured pistol, is not sufficient grounds for a disturbing the peace", paraphrased.

Parking lot carry also becomes law August 1, as well as a few other changes. Check out Alabama SB286, recently signed by the Governor for additional information.

Also check out www.handgunlaw.us/states/alabama.pdf for some handy info.

Over all, Alabama is a very gun friendly state.

G'dale Mike - You'll like Alabama. i'm just north of B'ham about 10 miles up I-65.
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And I'm right next door to Birmingham, in Fultondale, nice to meet ya!
 
Like the others have stated, Alabama is very gun friendly. With a background check in most counties you can walk in and out with a permit and no waiting periods or limits on purchases with a background check also.
So all in all a good state.
The negative is their are not a lot of public places to shoot. I'm a member of a private club so not much issue for me. In B'ham the only public range I know of is Hoover Tactical and it is an indoor range. I think there is some public land close to Shelby county but not sure.
The good side is its easy to find fellow shooters wit land to shoot on.
 
As far as state specific sites, a web search might find you something useful. One drawback, their college football teams are pretty awful.
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False, Alabama has won back to back National Championships, making it 15 total and many more SEC championships. Auburn won one a few years back as well. The college I go and play football at, Birmingham Southern College, won our SAA conference championship last year.

We rock at football.
 
Coming into our range there is a banner that says welcome to the home of the national champions. AL, AU, AL, AL.

Only the last four years. ;)


It's pretty good gun wise here.
 
And I am probably the only person in Alabama who is not a football fan.

Shelby county is very firearm friendly. CCW permit takes all of 15 minutes and $20 for 1 year. You can renew your permit through the mail if you don't feel like driving to the Sheriff office in Columbiana. I live in St Claire now and they are similar for being gun friendly, just less stores out this way.
 
(Per my Football comment) "I was being ironical" :D I'm a native ND fan, and as a sage Charlie Brown once wisely said, "AArrrrrrggggh!" I'm still in pain.
 
I was hoping for a game.... but dang (in reference to the Bama/ND game).

Come on down, we'll be happy to add another pro-2A responsible citizen to our state. Come and experience freedom! :)
 
AL is pretty nice gun wise, I've lived here for all my life so I'm kind of partial. I don't know much about Shelby county, I do know it seems like every time I find a shooting event I would be interested in its up there in the northern (Yankee) part of the state, which would be nice if you live up there.


Check out:
http://www.alabamaopencarry.com/forum/
 
You can't go wrong with Dixie any way you look at it. From West Virgina to Florida, west to Texas and Arkansas, and everywhere in between is pure heaven on earth! All of the states comprising Dixie are as gun friendly as you can hope for.
 
TenDriver mentioned shooting ranges. I hear there is a public range in the WMA in Shelby county. I believe that is called Cahaba WMA near Calera. A hunting license is required. Also, a fairly decent indoor range/store called Hoover Tactical. Never been to either....just heard of them.

Personally, I've dispensed a lot of lead in Shelby county at a farm just outside of Chelsea. :D That was nice while we had the opportunity. Maybe the OP can hookup with another shooter with a similar venue.
 
Welcome to The Heart of Dixie

and Shelby County!

Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry hosts Appleseed shoots at the Shelby County Sheriff's Office Training Center. It's an excellent range for Appleseed with nice air conditioned classrooms. About half of the red/orange hats at the shoots are either deputies or on Sheriff Curry's staff.

I belong to the F.O.P. Range in Plesant Grove - we have a nice outdoor public range, and memberships are still available if you want to join. See: http://www.foprangeinc.com for information.
 
Alabama is a good state to live in...

I am originally from Boulder, Co. About 12 years ago I took a job in Shelby county and live there now. To get a conceal carry permit you can go online to the Shelby County Sheriffs office download the form and mail it in with $20 dollars and in about 2 weeks you should receive a permit in the mail. That is unless you are a bad bad person.

There is no waiting period or any of that nonsense in this state to buy a firearm or handgun. Our Senators, both of them, are defenders of our bill of rights I am proud to say.

This is the land of the triple G's, God, Guts, and Guns and in that order here in Alabama. There are some who are trying to ruin that but it is not likely to get any traction.

I doubt that our state will ever get California like Colorado has so it is a safe bet to move here. The people in Alabama would not stand one minute for gun grabbing so you can bet the feds will have a hard time convincing our law enforcement to infringe our constitutional rights here. But there is always some who would try but I just don't feel it would work very well here.

We have legislation currently in our state legislature to make us a shall issue state from a may issue state but our Sheriff in Shelby seems to respect our rights and I have not heard of any problems getting a conceal carry permit if you are a good citizen with no criminal background.

I bend down and kiss the ground I live on everyday because of this. Alabama is as good as any state as far as gun rights for law abiding citizens.

I do software engineering and get offers to go all over the country to work and most often with much higher pay but do not go because of their gun laws and I never ever want to shovel snow ever again. It is a safe bet that if you get below the Mason-Dixon line you are good to go gun rights wise. Most Southern states are respectful of these rights.

Come on down here and look me up I would be glad to help you overcome the culture shock as Alabama is definitely a southern culture and if you are not used to it it takes some adjustment.
 
The Cahaba WMA is a nice range. Nice folks and not many people are there if you go around 0800 on a weekday to get some solo shooting in. It is a little out of the way so be sure to look at the directions on the website to find it.

Avoid Hoover Tactical Firearms. Browse the store if you want but I would not recommend buying anything there or using their indoor range. I won't bash a business here but they have some sketchy business practices. There are plenty of other gun stores that are awesome just a bit farther drive depending on where you are. Feel free to PM me if you want the gun stores I frequent that are better than Hoover Tactical, in my opinion.
 
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