MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A recently filed bill would require Alabamians to obtain a permit for carrying assault weapons, whether on their person or in their vehicle.
House Bill 23, introduced by Rep. Kenyatte Hassell, D-Montgomery, defines an assault weapon as a semiautomatic rifle capable of accepting detachable magazines and possessing at least one of six specific features, such as a folding stock or a second handgrip.
The bill also covers semiautomatic pistols, rifles, and shotguns with at least one of several defined attributes, including a second handgrip.
Hassell told Alabama Daily News, “It’s a widespread issue, but in Montgomery especially, we see people at gas stations with assault weapons in their trunks.”
“We’ve also got people walking around neighborhoods with these weapons. While I’m not against owning them, I believe a permit should be required. We need some form of precaution as it’s causing a lot of fear among the residents here.”
The bill mandates that Alabamians can obtain an assault weapon permit from their local sheriff’s office. A violation of this proposed law would be classified as a Class C felony, carrying a penalty of up to ten years in prison.
This bill is among several filed by Democratic state lawmakers in recent years. For example, House Bill 36, sponsored by Rep. Phil Ensler, D-Montgomery, aimed to ban pistols modified with trigger activators, which enable semiautomatic firearms to fire at a rate similar to fully automatic weapons.
Ensler’s bill failed to reach a Senate vote and, although it narrowly passed in the House, faced significant opposition from House Republicans who argued it infringed on Second Amendment rights. Ensler has pledged to reintroduce the bill in 2025 and has recently expressed his support for Hassell’s bill as well.
“I fully support his bill and commend his efforts to address some of the most dangerous and deadly aspects of gun violence,” Ensler told BT.
While Ensler’s bill received an endorsement from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the agency declined to comment on Hassell’s bill because it was pre-filed. An ALEA spokesperson told ADN on Tuesday that they do not comment on pending legislation.
Hassell anticipates similar opposition when HB23 is deliberated next year, but hopes to alleviate concerns by emphasizing the bill’s narrow focus and intent.
“Even though I know there will be opposition, my argument will be that our inner cities are suffering from this issue,” he said. “We have people pulling up at gas stations, taking out these weapons, and waving them around. So I’m trying to address that.”
Rep. Ron Bolton, R-Northport, who supported Ensler’s bill to ban handguns modified with trigger activators earlier this year, expressed reservations about Hassell’s bill.
“I would not be in favor of it,” Bolton said. “I honestly don’t know if there’s any way they could amend it to make it acceptable to me.”
When asked if he thought House Republicans could be persuaded to support Hassell’s bill, Bolton expressed doubt.
Gun violence in Alabama has risen sharply, with the rate of gun deaths increasing by 54% from 2012 to 2021, a much higher rate than the 39% increase seen nationally during the same period.
Additionally, Alabama’s rate of homicide gun deaths surpasses the national average. Between 2018 and 2021, 47% of gun deaths in Alabama were homicides, while 49% were suicides, compared to 57% and 40%, respectively, at the national level.