By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Alabama State Sen. Jimmy Holley, R-Elba, has introduced a bill that would allow qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry their guns even in places where carrying firearms is prohibited by law, even for citizens with valid concealed carry permits. Active duty law enforcement officers already have this exception.
Firearm possession is already prohibited under Alabama law at certain places including by persons with a valid pistol permit. These include: in a police, sheriff, or highway patrol station; inside a prison, jail, halfway house, community corrections facility, or other detention center; inside a facility that provides custodial or inpatient care to those with psychiatric, mental, or emotional care; in a courthouse, courthouse annex, building where a district attorney’s office is located, or in any building where a city council or county commission is currently holding a regularly scheduled or called meeting; at any athletic event, or any facility where the owners prohibit firearms and which has security in place preventing unauthorized persons from entering.
This security would include the continuing posting of guards and other security features including key cards, magnetometers, screening devices, turnstiles or other physical barriers.
This legislation would not allow anyone to carry where carry of firearms is prohibited by federal law. The definition of retired law enforcement would be someone as found in the federal Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act, served at least ten years, left honorably, and meets the qualification for active duty law enforcement officers to carry firearms.
SB27 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The 2018 regular legislative session begins on January 9.
