Alabama committee narrowly rejects concealed carry bill

A pedestrian walks into the library on the Georgia Tech campus Friday, March 11, 2016, in Atlanta. Licensed gun owners who are 21 and older would be able to carry concealed weapons on public college campuses in Georgia if Gov. Nathan Deal signs a bill headed to his desk. The Georgia Senate passed the bill by a 37-17 vote on Friday, bidding to legalize concealed firearms on campuses statewide. A pedestrian walks into the library on the Georgia Tech campus Friday, March 11, 2016, in Atlanta. Licensed gun owners who are 21 and older would be able to carry concealed weapons on public college campuses in Georgia if Gov. Nathan Deal signs a bill headed to his desk. The Georgia Senate passed the bill by a 37-17 vote on Friday, bidding to legalize concealed firearms on campuses statewide.

By Associated Press April 24, 2019 2 min read

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – A legislative committee on Tuesday narrowly defeated legislation that would abolish Alabama’s requirement to obtain a state permit to carry a concealed handgun in public.

The Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee voted down the proposal by Republican Sen. Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa. A motion to advance the bill to the Alabama Senate floor failed on a 6-5 vote.

The legislation is backed by gun rights groups including the National Rifle Association.

Allen said he was “totally surprised” by the defeat after he requested the bill be moved to that committee. Allen, who has unsuccessfully pushed the bill for several years, said he will keep trying on the proposal.

“The Second Amendment is too important for us to turn our backs on it and that’s exactly what took place in committee,” Allen said. “We’re not folding the tents up. We’re not going to go away.”