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Here’s What Alabama And Florida Residents Need To Know: Concealed Carry Permits Not Required In Alabama
January 3, 2023
Concealed carry permits are no longer required in Alabama, but officials say there are some very important need to know points for Alabama residents traveling into Florida, or Florida residents headed into Alabama.
Alabama Residents
With the new year, Alabama residents are not required to obtain a concealed carry permit from their county’s sheriff’s department for a handgun. But the permits, which cost just $20 a year ($15 for senior citizens) are still a good idea, according to Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson.
“If you cross the state line into Florida, their state law says if you carry a pistol without a permit, it’s a felony,” Jackson said. “Not buying a $20 permit is not worth the risk of driving to the grocery store in Century, getting stopped with a (concealed) pistol, and going to jail. That’s not going to work out in your favor.”
“The laws in Alabama do not dictate the State of Florida,” Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Commander Andrew Hobbs said. “The Escambia (FL) Sheriff’s Office is going to uphold the statutes of the State of Florida.”
Hobbs noted that a permit is required only for concealed carry. Anyone that is allowed to possess a gun can legally have a firearm in their vehicle – securely encased and not readily available.
Florida Residents
Out of state residents, for instance from Florida, must still have a concealed carry permit from their state, Jackson said. Only Alabama residents can concealed carry without a permit.
Probably Not A Problem
Both Jackson and Hobbs said that overall they don’t expect many problems from the new law in Alabama.
“I don’t believe we are going to have a large issue with this,” Hobbs said. “Legal gun owners know the laws and abide by them.
Major Financial Impact For ECSO (AL)
The new law will have a big financial impact on the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Jackson said. His department previously earned about $125,000 a year from the permits. The law that became effective January 1, 2023, was actually passed by Alabama lawmakers in March 2022. At that time, ECSO Alabama’s revenue from sales dropped by about half.
“I think it will drop to about $10,000 to $20,000 a year,” Jackson said. “We are asking people to still purchase the pistol permits so they are good in other states. And that’s money we used to train deputies, buy equipment and for the overall function of the jail.”
Comments
8 Responses to “Here’s What Alabama And Florida Residents Need To Know: Concealed Carry Permits Not Required In Alabama”
In Florida: Concealed carry in your vehicle without a permit requires that the firearm be “securely encased” and “not readily accessible”. A snap type holster will suffice per case law. You don’t have to unload your gun or relocate the ammunition.
CC above clearly doesn’t know the law in Florida. No need to mislead people with blatantly alse information FauCCi. To comply legally in Florida a C.C. permit holder can still carry on his or her person in the car while those without simply have to have it in a container with a lid. A simply bag with a fold over flap suffices. No need 5o take a mag out and put it in the trunk. I carry mine 1 in the chamber, mag inserted in the glove box. Situational awareness and locked doors with windows up can prevent car jackings. Not many of those happen in Florida anyways. Maybe CC lives in Atlanta, Chicago, LA or Detroit or any of the craphole Liberal cities.
What about Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia ? I Iive in
Alabama, and travel to the other states occasionally.
CC, there is no two-step rule in Florida. The relevant statue is:
Florida Statute 790.25 “(5) POSSESSION IN PRIVATE CONVEYANCE.—Notwithstanding subsection (2), it is lawful and is not a violation of s. 790.01 for a person 18 years of age or older to possess a concealed firearm or other weapon for self-defense or other lawful purpose within the interior of a private conveyance, without a license, if the firearm or other weapon is securely encased or is otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use. Nothing herein contained prohibits the carrying of a legal firearm other than a handgun anywhere in a private conveyance when such firearm is being carried for a lawful use. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the carrying of a concealed firearm or other weapon on the person. This subsection shall be liberally construed in favor of the lawful use, ownership, and possession of firearms and other weapons, including lawful self-defense as provided in s. 776.012.”
790.001 Definitions (17) “Securely encased” means in a glove compartment, whether or not locked; snapped in a holster; in a gun case, whether or not locked; in a zippered gun case; or in a closed box or container which requires a lid or cover to be opened for access.”
So, while it cannot be on you without a permit, simply in a lidded box, glovebox, etc. is sufficient – even if one is in the chamber and the magazine is in the firearm.
In my county, just across the state line,in Alabama they run a background check. When I was a Florida resident and had a CCW it took me a year and a half to get it. They kept closing my application because I didn’t send paperwork that was never requested. I’d call and ask what was taking so long and they’d say I never sent the paperwork and I’d tell them I didn’t get a request and they’d open it back up. This happened twice so it took me wayyyyy longer than normal to get mine. I finally had to get a supervisor involved to get it. I had to send copies of my birth certificate, a copy of death certificates, marriage licenses and divorcé decrees, I had to order them from Michigan,to show my name changes. Not really sure about the death certificate because I stayed the same last name after his death. For a CCW! I’ve never heard of such a thing. Nothing like big brother up in all your business. In Alabama thankfully I just needed to show them my Florida permit,they did a background check, I work in public safety, paid $160(several years worth)and had my permit.
I’ve lived in Alabama most of my life and every time I’ve gotten a permit they do a background check, when you purchase a firearm they do one. And as far as training at a certain age to get your hunting license you have to take a hunter’s safety course
One big difference that I see is that Florida has safety training requirements and background checks to obtain a permit. Alabama just sells them. That means that any Alabama resident with $20 can come into Florida with a concealed weapon with absolutely no clue about safety or good practice. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
(I’m persoanally hoping that crime rates in Alabama decrease.)
sooo as long as you stay in the state of Alabama you’re good on carrying a weapon. If you plan on leaving the state though you need your CCW. Not a big win for the second amendment in my opinion unless you never plan on leaving the state. I’ve always paid for multiple years on my CCW because it allows me to travel safely to other states.
Btw you can carry a gun concealed in your vehicle in Florida as long as it takes two steps to make the gun usable(taught in my Florida CCW class when I lived in Pensacola). Maybe you could ask the car jacker or robber to wait till you to get the gun out of your glove box and the magazine from the trunk so you can defend yourself? No thanks I’ll pay the $20 a year for the CCW license.