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New Poll Shows Alabama Voters Strongly Support The Handgun Permit System as Lawmakers Prepare to Vote on a Bill That Would Gut it

April 19, 2019

71 Percent of Recent Voters Oppose Removing the Requirement for a Permit

On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate Tourism Committee Will Vote on SB 4, Which Would Gut the Permitting System

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Alabama chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today released polling conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of Everytown. The results indicate that a staggering majority of Alabamans support the permitting system and its existing background check requirement.

SB 4 would allow people to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public without getting a permit or passing a background check. The Senate Tourism Committee will hold a vote on the bill on Tuesday, April 23.

“As a responsible gun owner, I know that when we remove the permitting system that keeps our communities safe, no one wins,” said Judy Taylor, gun owner and volunteer with the Alabama chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “We proudly stand with dozens of sheriffs from across the state who oppose this bill, and we urge our lawmakers to listen to the people we have entrusted to keep our communities safe.”

The survey polled 1,200 Alabama voters and found, among other results:

71 percent of recent Alabama voters oppose removing the requirement for a permit, thus making it legal for people who pose a justifiable concern to public safety to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public. This includes 67 percent of Republicans, 78 percent of Democrats and 65 percent of gun-owning households.

87 percent of recent Alabama voters support requiring a background check to attain a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public in Alabama. This includes 87 percent of Republicans, 88 percent of Democrats and 83 percent of gun-owning households.

62 percent of Alabama voters would be less likely to vote for Gov. Ivey if she signed legislation removing Alabama’s permit requirement. This includes 57 percent of Republicans, 69 percent of Democrats and 56 percent of gun-owning households.

Last week, nearly 100 volunteers with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America traveled to the Capitol to oppose the bill. The volunteers were joined by law enforcement officials from across the state — including sheriffs from Montgomery County, Lee County and Marion County — who said the bill would hinder law enforcement’s ability to keep people safe.

States that have enacted permitless carry laws have seen a substantial increase in firearm violence. After Missouri passed permitless carry in January 2017, St. Louis saw a nearly 25 percent increase in the rate of aggravated assaults with a gun in 2017 compared to 2016. Alabama already has the second highest rate of firearm deaths in the country, according to the Center for Disease Control.

More information on the dangers of permitless carry is available here.

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