An Alabama Republican sheriff wants to see youths under age 21 required to purchase a permit to carry a concealed weapon, and he’s gathering information to see if there can be an effort to change the permitless carry law in the Alabama Legislature.

Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch told AL.com last week that young offenders have increasingly been those involved in gun and gang-related violence in the past year, and that requiring them to carry a permit would give law enforcement a tool to seize the firearms before they are used violently.

“I agree with the argument that the people committing these crimes will get a gun regardless of what the law said,” said Burch. “But right now, we don’t have the ability to take it from them.”

He added, “I think what would help in maybe moving in this right direction is to have some education for law enforcement, as well, that this isn’t (targeted at) the school teacher who left a gun in their car. Common sense comes along with this. But when you got a group of people riding around at 2 in the morning with multiple guns in the car, there is no good intention there.”

sikacz wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 10:52 am Lack of impulse control is a BS reason. Plenty of 18 to 20 years never have an issue with impulse control. Perhaps addressing the underlying reasons why a few do not would be more beneficial. Addressing those might prevent issues with the ones that continue to f’up as adults. That said, it’s not a denial of a right, but it brings up what other requirements should be set for under 21 year olds if their maturity needs to be tested? I suspect any answer would be unconstitutional. So I suspect this one would have issues as well.