On October 1, a brand new legislation governing who could possess firearms in Alabama goes into impact. The laws, handed as SB119 in the course of the 2025 session, builds on current restrictions and introduces important modifications that broaden the scope of prohibited people and improve penalties for sure gun-related crimes.
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Underneath earlier Alabama legislation, people convicted of crimes of violence or misdemeanor home violence, or these topic to a sound home abuse safety order, have been prohibited from possessing a firearm. The up to date legislation expands that record to incorporate anybody convicted of a felony, no matter whether or not it was violent in nature.
Moreover, the legislation makes it a category C felony for an individual to own a firearm after being charged with a violent offense or home violence and launched pending trial—even when they haven’t but been convicted. A conviction underneath this provision relies on the individual later being discovered responsible of the unique cost or a lesser included offense, until the requirement is waived.
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The laws additionally raises the penalty for firing a gun into an occupied constructing or automobile, elevating the offense from a category B felony to a category A felony, Alabama’s most severe prison classification.
To assist make clear the modifications:
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A category A felony (reminiscent of homicide or taking pictures into an occupied constructing) is punishable by 10 years to life in jail and as much as a $60,000 wonderful.
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A category B felony (reminiscent of sure burglaries or aggravated assaults) carries 2 to twenty years in jail and a wonderful as much as $30,000.
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A category C felony (together with illegal firearm possession underneath the brand new legislation) is punishable by 1 12 months and 1 day to 10 years in jail and as much as $15,000 in fines.
The legislation additionally outlines particular circumstances during which minors could legally possess a firearm, reminiscent of whereas looking or taking part in supervised coaching, and additional defines exemptions for legislation enforcement and college safety personnel.
With these updates, Alabama legislators purpose to shut gaps in enforcement and extra successfully forestall harmful people from accessing firearms whereas awaiting trial or following a felony conviction.
Sherri Blevins is a workers author for Yellowhammer Information. Chances are you’ll contact her at [email protected].
