Alabama Gun Laws
(a) Every citizen has a fundamental right to bear arms in defense of himself or herself and the state. Any restriction on this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.
(b) No citizen shall be compelled by any international treaty or international law to take an action that prohibits, limits, or otherwise interferes with his or her fundamental right to keep and bear arms in defense of himself or herself and the state, if such treaty or law, or its adoption, violates the United States Constitution.
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Licensing of Owners | No | No |
Permit to Carry | No | Yes |
Permit to Purchase | No | No* |
Registration of Firearms | No | No |
The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | Enacted |
No-Net Loss | Enacted |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | Provisions Enacted |
Right to Carry Laws | No Permit Required |
Right to Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | Outright Recognition |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Legal |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | With Provisions |
Alabama Attorney General: IMPORTANT RECIPROCITY NOTES: Alaska, Colorado and Iowa permit holders must be 21 years of age to carry in this state. A Class 1 North Dakota permit holder must be 21 years of age, a Class 2 permit holder, at least 18 years of age. Florida recognizes an Alabama permit if the permit holder is 21 years old or older. |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Purchase and Transfer
No state permit is required to purchase a rifle, shotgun, or handgun. MORE |
Possession
No state permit is required to possess a rifle, shotgun, or handgun. MORE |
Carrying
With some exceptions, the open carry of firearms is lawful. Under Alabama law, it is a rebuttable presumption that the mere carrying of a visible handgun, holstered or secured, in a public place, in and of itself, is not a violation of the disorderly conduct law. Ala. Code § 13A-11-7(c). MORE |
Antiques and Replicas
“Antique handguns,” being handguns possessed or sold “as curiosities or ornaments” are exempt from the provisions on purchase, possession, or sale. Such handguns may be transported unloaded and in a bag, box, or securely wrapped package, but not concealed on the person. Ala. Code §§ 13A-11-83, 13A-11-50 (prohibition on concealed carry). |
Machine Guns, “Assault Weapons,” Magazines, etc.
Alabama has no state law defining or regulating “assault weapons” or “large capacity magazines.” It does not specifically regulate machine guns as a class of firearm. MORE |
Preemption
Under Ala. Code § 13A-11-61.3(c), the “entire field of regulation in this state touching in any way upon firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories” is reserved to the state legislature, “to the complete exclusion of any order, ordinance, or rule promulgated or enforced by any political subdivision.” MORE |
Restoration of Rights
Alabama has a restoration of rights procedure for persons under a mental health-based firearm disability. Gun rights lost due to a criminal conviction may be restored through a pardon. MORE |
Range Protection
State law protects “sport shooting ranges” from certain kinds of civil and criminal liability arising from the operation or use of the range. MORE |
Miscellaneous
Ala. Code § 11-80-11 reserves to the state’s Attorney General (by and with the consent of the Governor) the authority to bring or settle any lawsuit in which the state has an exclusive interest or right to recover against a firearm or ammunition manufacturer, trade association, or dealer, and the authority to bring or settle any lawsuit on behalf of any governmental unit created by or pursuant to an act of the state legislature or the state constitution for damages, abatement, injunctive relief, or other equitable relief relating to the design, manufacture, marketing, or lawful sale of firearms or ammunition. This does not prohibit a county or municipal corporation from bringing an action against a firearms or ammunition manufacturer or dealer for breach of contract or warranty as to firearms or ammunition purchased by the political subdivision or local governmental authority. MORE |
SOURCES: Code of Alabama §§11-80-11, 6-5-341, 9-11-304, 9-11-257, and 13A-11-50 through 13A-11-85. |
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
On Monday, May 6th, Governor Kay Ivey signed Senate Bill 281, the gun owner financial privacy bill, into law.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
On Tuesday, April 30th, Senate Bill 281, the gun owner financial privacy bill, was passed in the House by a ...
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
On Wednesday, April 24th, House Bill 389 and Senate Bill 281, the gun owner financial privacy bills, were passed in ...
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
On Tuesday, April 23rd, the credit card data privacy bill Senate Bill 281 was passed on the Senate floor unanimously. It ...
Monday, April 15, 2024
Is the Alabama House siding with NYC banks and wanting your firearms and ammunition purchases tracked?
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
On Wednesday, April 10th, companion bills HB 389 and SB 281 passed out of their respective committees, without amendments.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
On Tuesday, April 2nd, House Bill 389, the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, was introduced in the House. Representative ...
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Last night, the Alabama Legislature adjourned sine die from its 2023 legislative session. This session saw scheduled hearings for a few anti-gun ...
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
The supposedly pro-gun majority in the Alabama House has scheduled committee hearings for three anti-gun bills.
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Yesterday, March 7th, the Alabama Legislature began the 2023 legislative session. As in 2022, the Legislature can expect to see both pro and anti-gun agendas ...