By Staff Reports

Gun owners in Alabama will soon be able to carry concealed firearms without first obtaining state permits.

Gov. Kay Ivey recently signed HB-272, also known as the constitutional carry bill, into law. It will take effect Jan. 1, 2023.

The Morgan County Sherriff’s Office on its official Facebook page shared answers to some frequently asked questions since the legislation was signed March 10.

𝗗𝗼 𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁? Yes, the law does not change until Jan. 1, 2023. If you carry a concealed handgun until then, you are required to have a permit.

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯? Yes and no. If you travel into other states, you will need a concealed carry permit depending on which states you visit; each state sets its own specific requirements.

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 s𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳’s o𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀? Yes, and in 2019, we made it convenient to obtain or renew a permit online.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁? Conceal Carry Permits cost $20 a year. This has not changed.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿? A long time ago, the state legislature created the permit process. Since then, the sheriff’s office has relied on this funding to support the operations of the office. In Morgan County the funds are used to pay for supplies, equipment and training.