MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Senate is getting praise from the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action for passing a bill that would even out gun permit fees across the state.
SB 304, which passed the Senate 27-0, eliminates the significant cost difference in concealed weapon license (CWL) fees between counties. Currently, a standard 5-year permit issued in Jefferson County costs $40, while the same permit in Baldwin, Coosa, DeKalb, Lowndes, and Macon Counties costs $125.
The NRA has said Alabama’s current system allows counties to charge excessive fees and generate revenue off of law-abiding citizens.
“This bill acknowledges the simple truth that law-abiding Alabamians should not be charged different amounts for the same permit,” said Catherine Mortensen, NRA spokesperson, in a press release. “The NRA believes that concealed carry permit fees should be limited to the actual cost of processing the permit and complying with all statutory obligations. Anything above that is a discriminatory tax on law-abiding gun owners and a revenue generator for the county.”
The current system states that gun owners must obtain a concealed carry permit from the county in which they live. SB 304 will allow them to get their permit in any county in the state, as long as they are not statutorily disqualified from doing so.
No matter what county a gun owner receives a license from, the sheriff of the individual’s county of residence would receive notification that the license was issued and would have full authority to revoke a license if he or she would have done so upon application.
The NRA also threw its support behind Alabama’s SB 14 earlier this month, which would extend the so-called Castle Doctrine into an individual’s car. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa), passed the Senate with a 26-7 vote and brought praise from the NRA.
“On behalf of the NRA’s members across the state of Alabama, I want to thank Senator Gerald Allen for sponsoring this pro-freedom bill. Senator Allen is a true friend of the Second Amendment,” NRA spokesperson Catherine Mortensen said.
SB 14 and SB 304 are both working their way through the House of Representatives now.
