ALABAMA (WHNT) — According to the United States Concealed Carry Association, Alabama is one of the most gun-friendly states in the country.
While the state has laws that allow for easy purchase of firearms, it is also common among families in Alabama for people to be gifted or inherit guns from other family members. The question is, what does a person need to do if they are gifted a gun?
“It’s pretty simple,” Jackson County Sheriff Rocky Harnen said when asked that question. “You are not required to register a gun that’s given to you or even sold unless you purchase it from a gun dealer or business.”
Harnen said that there are some restrictions on who can own a handgun. Mainly, you need to be 21 to legally own one in Alabama. It should be noted that Alabama does have laws that allow minors to handle firearms, but largely for sporting or hunting purposes. You have to be 19 to own a long gun like a hunting rifle or shotgun.
According to Harnen and Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine, the state does not require any kind of registration after the initial sale by a licensed dealer.
“The only person who registers a firearm is the initial buyer of a firearm,” Balentine explained.
Both sheriffs said it’s still a good idea to have a bill of sale or another document that proves the gun has changed hands, just to be safe.
“It is good to get a bill of sale or letter from the person providing the gun to you just for your benefit in case it may have been used in a crime,” Harnen said.
Balentine added that it’s his standard practice to do so when he has bought or sold guns, and that it just gives law enforcement a better paper trail in case something bad happens.
While there aren’t any legal hoops to jump through, both Harnen and Balentine stressed that training is still very important for someone given a gun to be familiar with it.
Balentine said that it should include some time on a gun range, preferably with someone who can show proper firearm safety and handling.
“You need to be very familiar,” he said.
Balentine said the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office already provides firearm training for security teams at local churches and is planning to start a program providing training for people with concealed carry permits through his office.
The sheriff also recommends looking into private training courses that are offered by some gun ranges and stores. He specifically mentioned that Cypress Creek Indoor Range in Florence has several options for people local to the Shoals.
The sheriff also said it’s important if you are new to handling firearms to start with something simple. He said if someone is unfamiliar with handguns, it’s probably best to start on a revolver or other simple pistol before moving to a more complicated semi-automatic.
Balentine said training can also come from family. He said he plans to go over gun safety at the firing range with his grandsons when they are each old enough. Balentine said that he plans to start his grandsons off with “something basic.”
The post What to know about gifting guns in Alabama appeared first on WHNT.
