Carry Permit Limitations

September 30, 2015

13A­11­61.2. The following areas do not allow carrying of firearms, even with a valid license to carry:

● Sheriff, police and highway patrol offices
● Correctional facilities, juvenile detention, halfway house, prison or jail
● Facilities used in caring for patients with psychiatric or mental illnesses
● Courthouses, office of the District Attorney, and buildings used by the city council or county commission for their meetings
● Sports arena or stadium during an athletic competition that is not related to or does not involve firearms
● Buildings or facilities that do not allow entrance of unauthorized persons
● Buildings or facilities that use security features like key cards, magnetometers, biometric screening devices and physical barriers. Carrying a firearm inside the vehicle in private or public parking lot is allowed, provided that the firearm is locked in a container or hidden in a compartment.

Authorized persons for the “off limits” places mentioned above shall place “No Gun” signs on the entrance of such premises to alert the visitors that firearms are prohibited in the area.

Note: The University of Alabama still does not allow firearms on their property even in the parking lots. There are also other universities that enforce the same rules for their campus, so carriers must be cautious when visiting such places,.

Section 13A­11­72. Under this section, “public school” refers to schools with grades K to 12 including the school bus used by the students. No person with harmful intentions is allowed to possess firearms inside a public school. Violation of this law is considered as Class C felony. This law does not apply to law enforcement officers and carry permit holders.

Section 13A­11­59. Possession of firearms by persons participating in, attending, etc., demonstrations at public places. Under this section, the following terms are defined:

● “Demonstration” refers to any action done by one or more persons that can draw people or onlookers including holding of vigils, speechmaking and marching. Visitors who have casual use of their property and have no intentions of attracting people’s attention shall not be included in this.
● “Firearm” refers to a pistol, shotgun, rifle or any kind of firearm that is either loaded or unloaded.
● “Law Enforcement Officers” refer to military members, investigating officers and peace officers who are appointed by the state, county or municipality to keep the peace and order or police officers who are on active duty.
● “Public Place” refers to a place that is accessible for the public including the front area and parking lot of stores, shops, malls and restaurants.

Carrying of firearms, either in a vehicle or in one’s possession, on any public place where a demonstration is being held is a violation of the law. Carrying of firearms in a vehicle or in one’s possession within 1,000 feet of a public place where there is demonstration is also prohibited. A person found carrying may be asked by the law enforcement officers to leave the place.

Note: Because Alabama has changed from a May Issue to Shall Issue state, county sheriffs will not add restrictions anymore on the carry permits they issued.

Firearms on Tennessee Valley Authority(TVA)

TVA Rules. Hunters are prohibited from carrying firearms but TVA allows unloaded and enclosed firearms. Carrying of firearms on TVA public ramps, parking lots and public roads is allowed. The Day Use Areas, Campgrounds and the recreational areas of TVA are considered off limits.