CCW in Alabama

[sjhipple]

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So...states that don't have shall-issue permits

California

Massachusetts

New Jersey

New York



And Alabama??



What's with that? Are you guys working on that?

 

[Wynder]

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Delaware is May-Issue.

 

[vmathis12019]

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You don't know the half of it ama-gi. Our laws in general, let alone our firearm laws are so vague, contradictory, and misleading that I'm surpised anyone goes to the trouble to carry here anyway.

It's a moral dilemma really. Being the buckle of the bible belt, we are very conservative around here. So much so, that it seems to have turned into a backward sort of neo-democrat type mindset. Alot of people around here only care about gun rights so far as it does not infringe on their right to hunt. Defending yourself seems to be low on the list of reasons we have guns.

This coupled with the unreasonable setup of our constitution (which has, last time I checked, nearly 800 amendments) makes everything confusing here. Anything not expressly given to the cities and counties to do, the state has to grant them permission: EXAMPLE: If Pike County wanted to raise their sales tax in order to raise money for parking on Troy University campus (which is DESPERATELY needed), they would have to appease the Alabama legislature to pass an amendment to the constitution saying that they could do it...

Pretty loopy I know. Now, about your question of May Issue vs. Shall Issue: Alabama for the most part is in fact a Shall Issue state. I have heard very few stories of people who were denied a permit who passed the BG check.

 

[HungSquirrel]

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In my opinion, Alabama gives WAY too much arbitrary authority to the local sheriffs. Some counties require character references. Some require background checks. Some require that you have lived in the county for at least six months. Some use fancy photo IDs complete with name, address, and description. I've heard that some counties use a signed sheet of paper from the sheriff, rather than a proper ID card.

And yes, our laws are so vague and contradictory that to change things it would be best to start with a clean slate (i.e., ratify a new constitution). Even if that were to ever come about, as mentioned previously, Alabamians only care about the RKBA as it applies to shotguns, rifles, and bows. Making this state shall-issue would be incredibly difficult, let alone making it like VT or AK. :uhoh:

 

[kurtmax_0]

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AL is shall issue if you have the money to spend on a lawyer or to bribe the Sheriff....

Also, yeah, I'd be afraid to carry in other states that have reciprocity with AL with the 'permit' that my Sheriff's office issues. It's an 8.5x11 sheet of paper printed in Word, and cut in half....

I wouldn't be surprised if they kept the permit records in a shoebox in the janitor's closet.

 

[Comp-tech]

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HungSquirrel wrote:

In my opinion, Alabama gives WAY too much arbitrary authority to the local sheriffs. Some counties require character references. Some require background checks. Some require that you have lived in the county for at least six months. Some use fancy photo IDs complete with name, address, and description. I've heard that some counties use a signed sheet of paper from the sheriff, rather than a proper ID card.

It isn't that Alabama gives arbitrary authority...the sheriffs seem to "make it up as they go"....this authority is nowhere in code that I have been able to locate.
All county sherriffs are required, by law, to perform a background check.

And yes, our laws are so vague and contradictory that to change things it would be best to start with a clean slate (i.e., ratify a new constitution). Even if that were to ever come about, as mentioned previously, Alabamians only care about the RKBA as it applies to shotguns, rifles, and bows. Making this state shall-issue would be incredibly difficult, let alone making it like VT or AK. :uhoh:

It's not so much the laws that are the issue...IMHO...it's the fact that LEOs make their own rules instead of following the laws that we have.
Again, IMHO, if they were held accountable and made to follow the law, our situation wouldn't be that bad at all.