On Tuesday, the Montgomery City Council voted to pass a new ordinance related to concealed carry that could directly contradict state law.
The Council voted 8-1 to require a valid photo ID to carry a concealed weapon on one’s person or in a vehicle. Current Alabama law requires no permit as long as the individual in possession of the firearm is at least 18 years of age.
“It gives us a tool in the toolbox,” ordinance sponsor, Councilor Glen Pruitt, told WSFA 12. “When you pull a carload of individuals over at 1 o’clock in the morning, you see a weapon in the car, right now we cannot say anything, but now we can ask them, ‘Hey, whose weapon? Whose got valid identification for the weapon?’”
Pruitt said the city welcomes the impending and inevitable legal challenges. “Look, we’re going to do it. And if something comes up, then we have attorneys and we’ll go figure it out in court and let the court tell us.”
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In terms of consequences for violating the law, Pruitt says those without a permit will have their firearm confiscated by the Montgomery Police Department for one month. “They can come get it for a $150 fine, and they need to bring proof of purchase, and if they don’t have it, we will destroy the weapon after 30 days.”
The ordinance has the support of Montgomery’s interim police chief, Jim Graboys, and the Mayor of Montgomery, Steven Reed.
The Montgomery City Council is the latest local entity in the state to push for stricter gun laws. In Mobile County, Sheriff Paul Burch began publicly advocating for Alabamians under the age of 21 to be required to buy a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
