Bill would allow Alabama minors to use pistols under adult supervision

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April 6, 2015

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Have you ever been target shooting with someone under the age of 18, say, your daughter, nephew, or grandchild? If you allowed them to possess a handgun during that time, you were breaking the law.

A bill currently under consideration in the Alabama Senate would allow minors to obtain pistols while under the supervision of their parents or another adult, as well as eliminate some redundant record keeping regarding the sales of handguns.

Under the changes proposed by SB262 minors would only be allowed to use the weapon if a safety instructor, parent, or other adult has given permisson. The pistol may only be used on private property, with the permission of the property owner.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), told Yellowhammer in a phone interview Monday afternoon that, contrary to how it’s being characterized by some in the media, the legislation simply allows parents to give permission to their teens to use pistols under parental or adult supervision. The bill will not allow minors to purchase handguns, or allow them to have possession of a pistol without adult permission.

Orr says that under current law he is unable to lawfully to hand his own son a pistol, even if it’s on his own property.

Minors are currently allowed to lawfully handle rifles and shotguns.

Another part of the bill would relieve firearms retailers from some of the record keeping required by the state that are already remitted to the federal government for its database. Current law requires the seller to keep records in triplicate of all sales of handguns in the state. One copy of the records are sent to the sheriff in the county where the handgun was sold, and another copy is sent to the Alabama Secretary of State.

The bill is currently pending in the Senate Governmental Affairs committee, and is expected to be taken up in the next few weeks.