Posted on 07/23/2015 10:41:46 AM PDT by BulletBobCo
Some disturbingly anti-gun news has recently come out of a typically pro-gun conservative southern state.
The Alabama Department of Transportation announced that they are banning the possession and carrying of firearms at rest stops along the state’s interstates and highways.
Ignoring the fact that both concealed and open carry are legal in the state, all rest stops will now have a sign reading “no weapons beyond this point.”
Although many are questioning whether ALDOT has the legal authority to do this, the department cited Alabama Code Section 25-1-59(c) as giving them the power to “prescribe any reasonable rules and regulations … prevent unnecessary trespassing upon or injury to any of the public roads, bridges, or highways of the state … ” upon which state money is spent.
In claiming this power, ALDOT has written its own administrative rule 450-3-1-.08(3), which read in part, “No person other than a duly authorized law enforcement officer shall enter any Alabama Department of Transportation building with a firearm … ”
However, according to Yellowhammer News, this new rule is in direct contradiction to the state statute regarding the regulation of firearms, Alabama Code Section 13A-11-61.3, which gives the Legislature complete control over all rules and regulations pertaining to firearms and ensures such rules and regulations are applied uniformly throughout the state.
The only possible way that the ALDOT could legitimately interpret the law to allow themselves to implement gun-free zones at rest areas is if they view all gun owners as trespassers or threats to cause “injury to public roads,” both of which are laughable.
State Rep. Barry Moore said, “I think that’s certainly an overstep. The Second Amendment is pretty clear: (government) SHALL not infringe. It seems like more and more, government tends to infringe on our right to bear arms. If anything I think we need to be getting rid of gun-free zones, not creating more of them.”
State Sen. Bill Holtzclaw agreed, speaking out against gun-free zones in general in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Holtzclaw said, “I believe that, nationwide, we’ve created these gun-free zones and cowards that want to be a martyr for their cause are attracted to them because they know that they’re going to be more successful in whatever form of terrorism or activism that they are trying to accomplish.”
He continued, “So when we label a gun-free zone, we actually create a killing field for those people who obviously aren’t going to follow a law like that.”
The Alabama Legislature must rein in its Department of Transportation, which has taken it upon themselves to promulgate their own rules regarding firearms, something outside their purview.
Alabama? Was I mistaken to believe it was in the Deep South?
No more travel dollars in that rat hole state from me.
I will just drive around.
There are signs stating “No weapons” at every national cemetery I have been to. They have never stopped me or others from carrying weapons.
I can’t think of ANYTHING in Alabama that I would EVER want to see.
How ironic being that more people die on our nations highways than they do from guns.
Bureaucrats are bureaucrats, no matter the state.
The DOT is not a law enforcement agency, neither are they a law making agency. They have neither the authority nor the manpower to enforce such an unconstitutional act.
Not a reasonable rule or regulation so they have no authority to do it.
Wouldn’t they need a warrant to search your car or person?
I doubt this holds
The rocket center is very cool, as is the Huntsville area in general. To me this looks like the work of some liberal sniveling bureaucrat who has managed to insert himself into an obscure rulemaking process. The State Legislature needs to slap him or her down. Hard.
So, what hysterical anti gun emotional crisis led to this?
Florida, the next state down, not only allows, concealed carry, but also stations armed security at all interstate rest areas after dark. Between the two, there’s not much crime at those rest areas.
and what are they going to do, pat you down before being allowed to take a piss ...dumb fools ...
insane idiots!
Oh swell. Another “gun free” zone.
That should make everyone feel safe.
Fewer patriots and other people with common sense will be visiting Alabama!
Green light for criminals to haunt the rest areas...
Exactly.
Libs create these killing fields and then when something happens they want to come and get our guns.
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