Alabama to drop background checks, permits for concealed guns

Alabama is joining a growing list of states that don’t require a permit or background check to carry concealed weapons.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation into law that removes the current requirement for a permit. The measure will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023, making Alabama the 22nd state to allow concealed carry without a permit.

“Unlike states who are doing everything in their power to make it harder for law-abiding citizens, Alabama is reaffirming our commitment to defending our Second Amendment rights,” Ms. Ivey, a Republican, said in a statement. “I have always stood up for the rights of law-abiding gun owners, and I am proud to do that again today.”

Opponents of the new law, such as those in law enforcement and gun safety advocates, said it would erode public safety that the permits help protect and make it more difficult to combat crime.

Alabama had the fifth-highest rate of firearm-related deaths in 2020, accounting for 1,141 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A federal criminal background check is still required to legally purchase firearms in the state. To carry a concealed handgun, however, no longer requires a permit or the background check previously performed as part of the permitting process.

Alabama was previously an “open carry” state, which meant that adults could then openly carry a firearm without a permit. The firearm had to be carried in plain sight.

The legislation for the new law was introduced by state Rep. Shane Stringer, a Republican. It passed the Alabama House last month. The state Senate version was passed last week.

“Constitutional carry shields average Alabamians from attacks on their gun rights and provides them an added layer of protection against the lawless who may wish to do them harm,” Mr. Stringer said in a statement. 

Mr. Stringer, a former law enforcement officer, said that police on patrol will be able to determine who should and should not carry a firearm without having to ask anyone to show a permit.

A law last year created a statewide database of individuals who are prohibited from purchasing a firearm because of a felony conviction or other reason, and police will be able to instantly access the database while on patrol, he said.

• Kerry Picket contributed to this article, which includes wire services reports.