shep854

His concern is that more people would carry guns to protests.
Madison County Sheriff Blake Dorning: “Alabama law currently prohibits weapons at organized protests. A repeal of the current law by the passing of SB24 will allow handguns to be present at both peaceful and non-peaceful protests,” said Dorning in a statement posted to the department’s site. “This is especially troublesome and dangerous for protests that espouse hatred. Although protests are protected by the First Amendment, these gatherings will now be attended by persons possessing a handgun hidden from view of law enforcement. SB24 will allow these persons with a past history of violent behavior to do so.”
Sheriff: Constitutional carry will mean more armed at hate rallies

IrishCop, can you share the REAL story? I'm sure there's more than just this article.

Skeptic49

Based on the article the Sheriffs want to continue the rip off and demands for "campaign donations"
Geoff
Who still thinks you should not have to pay for a right.

csmkersh

That's what I got from the article as well, Geoff.

shep854

IrishCop works for this guy, so I hope he can share some more information

TommyGunn

I believe IrishCop is on the Morgan County Sheriffs dept., not Madison County.

shep854

Missed it by THAT much!

IrishCop

Just across the Tennessee river...

In all honesty, the Sheriff's in Alabama are ALL against doing away with the current Pistol Permits. They are a significant source of revenue that pays for vehicles, equipment and training. Money which is NOT provided through funding from the County Commission.

The $20 dollar yearly fee is not real burden for most folks. But I don't have a good argument for those who believe we shouldn't be taxed in order to exercise a constitutional right.

As a cop, I don't mind having a mechanism in place that allows me to take a gun away from someone who isn't obeying the law (...and I don't mean just carrying without a permit. I've let more than a few honest joe citizens have a pass when the circumstances showed that to be the right thing to do.)

...But (and y'all knew there was one coming, didn't you?) when Pauly Pain-in-my-ass (the guy who's popped for a bunch of stuff but just hasn't crossed over to the felony line yet) gets caught with his little pistol in his pocket and he doesn't have a license, well he gets a ride and his gun gets locked up too. I think that's a win-win.

The only people the law stops from carrying firearms are the people who obey the law.

Oh, and I think Sheriff Dorning is wrong. The law which prohibits carry of a firearm is separate from this bill that will eliminate the need for a permit to carry in your vehicle. The law would still make carrying a pistol, concealed or otherwise, to a demonstration on public property a crime.

shep854

One feature of Alabama concealed carry is that each county sheriff can set the fees for that county. In Jefferson Co., the yearly fee is $7.50. When Mike Hale tried to raise the fee to $20, we nearly had tar and feathers. He quickly changed it back...