If this goes through, you folks will have some envious buddies who don't live in Alabama.
To make sure it goes through, contact Gov. Seligman at: http://www.governor.state.al.us/office/email/email.html
Phone: 334-242-7100
Fax: 334-242-0937
Sen. Jack Biddle is at: (334) 242-7846 (no email)
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/May2000/17-e414607b.html
State may lift waiting period for guns
05/17/2000
MICHAEL SZNAJDERMAN
News staff writer
MONTGOMERY — While mothers prepared to march last weekend in Birmingham and Washington for stricter gun control laws, Alabama lawmakers were doing their part to ease regulations on handguns in Alabama.
Last week the Legislature quietly approved a bill that would end the 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases.
Sen. Jack Biddle, R-Gardendale, a vocal supporter of the bill, said he expects Gov. Don Siegelman to sign the measure. But Siegelman said Tuesday he was still reviewing the bill, along with hundreds more sent to his office in the final days of the legislative session. Siegelman must sign the bill or it dies.
In addition to lifting the waiting period, the measure would bar Alabama cities and counties from creating new firearms regulations that are tougher than the state's. The bill also would prohibit cities and counties from filing class-action lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
Supporters of the bill, including the National Rifle Association, say waiting periods aren't necessary since gun dealers began conducting instant criminal background checks on firearms buyers. The instant system replaced the five-day, federal waiting period on handguns that was part of the Brady bill gun control act. States that had their own waiting periods did not have to adhere to the five-day wait.
Since the instant system was launched in 1998, several states have decided to end their waiting periods. Today, fewer than half the states have them. Of the states surrounding Alabama, only Florida still has one.
Alabama's waiting period does not apply to rifles or shotguns.
"We have taken away people's individual freedom in Montgomery, Washington and everywhere else," said Biddle, a marksman and longtime gun collector. He said the waiting period "served no purpose whatsoever."
But Kim Mariani, with the Washington-based group Handgun Control Inc., said waiting periods can save lives by providing cooling-off time for people who try to buy handguns in the heat of rage.
She said federal officials estimate only half of the nation's 50 million criminal records are computerized, meaning instant background checks are anything but comprehensive.
If Siegelman signs the bill, waiting period will end Aug. 1.
© 2000 The Birmingham News. Used with permission.
To make sure it goes through, contact Gov. Seligman at: http://www.governor.state.al.us/office/email/email.html
Phone: 334-242-7100
Fax: 334-242-0937
Sen. Jack Biddle is at: (334) 242-7846 (no email)
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/May2000/17-e414607b.html
State may lift waiting period for guns
05/17/2000
MICHAEL SZNAJDERMAN
News staff writer
MONTGOMERY — While mothers prepared to march last weekend in Birmingham and Washington for stricter gun control laws, Alabama lawmakers were doing their part to ease regulations on handguns in Alabama.
Last week the Legislature quietly approved a bill that would end the 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases.
Sen. Jack Biddle, R-Gardendale, a vocal supporter of the bill, said he expects Gov. Don Siegelman to sign the measure. But Siegelman said Tuesday he was still reviewing the bill, along with hundreds more sent to his office in the final days of the legislative session. Siegelman must sign the bill or it dies.
In addition to lifting the waiting period, the measure would bar Alabama cities and counties from creating new firearms regulations that are tougher than the state's. The bill also would prohibit cities and counties from filing class-action lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
Supporters of the bill, including the National Rifle Association, say waiting periods aren't necessary since gun dealers began conducting instant criminal background checks on firearms buyers. The instant system replaced the five-day, federal waiting period on handguns that was part of the Brady bill gun control act. States that had their own waiting periods did not have to adhere to the five-day wait.
Since the instant system was launched in 1998, several states have decided to end their waiting periods. Today, fewer than half the states have them. Of the states surrounding Alabama, only Florida still has one.
Alabama's waiting period does not apply to rifles or shotguns.
"We have taken away people's individual freedom in Montgomery, Washington and everywhere else," said Biddle, a marksman and longtime gun collector. He said the waiting period "served no purpose whatsoever."
But Kim Mariani, with the Washington-based group Handgun Control Inc., said waiting periods can save lives by providing cooling-off time for people who try to buy handguns in the heat of rage.
She said federal officials estimate only half of the nation's 50 million criminal records are computerized, meaning instant background checks are anything but comprehensive.
If Siegelman signs the bill, waiting period will end Aug. 1.
© 2000 The Birmingham News. Used with permission.