AL: Gun Reform Bill Passes Senate 20-7

Gun Watch ^ | 23 March, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Alabama SB 354  passed the senate on Wednesday by the wide margin of 20 - 7.

The bill includes vehicles as an extension of the home for purposes of carrying firearms, recognizing the right to bear arms extends to a person's vehicle, where a great deal of time is spent in modern society.  This is especially helpful to the growing number of people who live in recreational vehicles and travel about the country.

The bill makes clear that open carry of firearms is not disorderly conduct.  In the section dealing with definitions of disorderly conduct, the bill reads:

"The mere lawful carrying of a visible, holstered or secured  firearm in a public place, in and of itself, shall not be a violation of this section."

This reform follows the trend in other legislatures such as Wisconsin and Utah, where the law has been clarified to prevent the use of a disorderly conduct charge to abuse citizens who are exercising their second amendment rights.

The effect of the bill would be to make Alabama considerably more friendly to the open carry of firearms.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

Interesting that more states find it necessary to codify that open carry of firearms is *not* disorderly conduct, so as to prevent police abuse of those exercising their rights.

[PubliusMM]

I must admit that I am baffled by some of this. But, not being a lawyer, that may be expected, I guess.
Rather than passing laws and ordinances that identify things like vehicles as extension of the home, etc., would not it be better to apply, by force of law, the notion that protecting one’s person, or that of others, is taken regardless of place or circumstance? Exceptions, if any, could then be spelled out separately. That would call attention to the insidious creep of the left as they push to add more and more locations to the ‘exempted’ list.

Just sayin’

[SERE_DOC]

Nice piece of legislation, unfortunately falls woefully short of "shall not infringe".

The 1902 Dick Act, negates any attempt by our elected rulers to control what is a common law right to self determination, protection. The 2nd Amendment, merely puts to paper what is our right as a free people.

But laws like this quantifies their treason by the vote they give.

[from occupied ga]

... so as to prevent police abuse of those exercising their rights.

BUT don't the FR jackbootlickers insist that the police are "on our side?"

[fella]

"don't the FR jackbootlickers insist that the police are "on our side?"

The police in Kiev were on a certain group of peoples side too, the tyrants.

[gymbeau]

Yeah, but that would make sense. Can’t have that!

Cheers,
Jim