Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday signed a measure known locally as the "constitutional carry bill," into law, recognizing Alabamians’ Second Amendment rights.

Ivey, a Republican, applied her signature to House Bill 272 the same day it was approved by lawmakers in Montgomery. The proposal had previously carried the state Senate 23-6 and the House in a 65-37 vote. 

"Unlike states who are doing everything in their power to make it harder for law-abiding citizens, Alabama is reaffirming our commitment to defending our Second Amendment rights," said Ivey. "I have always stood up for the rights of law-abiding gun owners, and I am proud to do that again today."

Alabamians who want a concealed carry permit for reciprocity reasons can still get one under the new law, which essentially just drops the requirement to have one for those seeking to carry. Two neighboring states, Mississippi, and Tennessee, already have permitless carry while a third, Georgia, has a similar measure in play.

HB 272, now Act Number 2022-133 in Alabama state law, becomes effective in January 2023. It was sponsored by Rep. Shane Stringer, a Mobile area Republican. Stringer lost his job as a captain with the Mobile Sheriff's Department, reportedly fired by Sheriff Sam Cochran last May over the bill. The powerful Alabama Sheriffs Association has long been on record as opposing permitless carry in the state as it would stand to slice away the easy revenue the agencies enjoyed from issuing such permits. 

Alabama has been widely recognized within the gun industry as being a 2A-friendly state. Steyr has its U.S. operation based in the Bessemer outside of Birmingham while Kimber has recently shifted its headquarters from gun sour New York to more friendly climes in Troy, Alabama, south of Montgomery. Likewise, the Civilian Marksmanship Program's warehouses are in Anniston while its Marksmanship Park, home to the annual Shooting Sports Showcase, is in Talladega.

Banner image: Kimber Mako R7 micro-compact 9mm pistol. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

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