Most OCers in Ohio will tell you that Ohio was made worse by the passage of concealed carry. Open carriers lost rights (for example, carry in a car) when the bill passed. The only good thing about the change was preemption. Open carriers in OH did NOT support that bill, and I wouldn't have either.
I do not support the Alabama bill for two reasons: (1) Alabama had already nailed preemption. Why they had to reword it I don't know. But you all may soon find out that that rewording is going to produce some strange interpretations by the Alabama courts. If they wanted to add civil consequences, they could have done so without changing the wording of preemption. (2) The one remaining infringement on OC in Alabama was vehicle carry. If they do not fix that one infringement, the rest is eyewash. Yes, it is nice that -52 would be gone. However, in court, it is already gone. The only problem remaining is that officers on the street may still try to use it. But officers will still find a way to harass OCers, even if -52 is gone.
The bill failed to properly address the only infringement still enforceable in court. It messed with wording that worked, possibly damaging preemption. (We won't know until someone ends up in court.) These two flaws are absolute deal-killers. The law sucks. I cannot support it. Not because it is "imperfect," (if you had read much of what I post, you would know that I incessantly rail against calls for perfection), but because the very specific and enumerable (two) flaws it has are unacceptable.
I urge Alabamians who believe in the RKBA to fight this bill as not moving that Right forward. Demand better (not perfect, better).
