On Wednesday, the Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security voted to advance legislation that would crack down on crimes involving the use of a firearm.
House Bill 301 is sponsored by State Representatives Reed Ingram.
According to the synopsis, this bill would establish a list of criminal offenses deemed felonies dangerous to human life. The bill would provide enhanced criminal penalties for possessing, brandishing, or discharging a firearm while committing a felony dangerous to human life. This bill would also prohibit possessing a firearm by certain individuals released on bond or personal recognizance when the underlying criminal offense for which the person was arrested is a felony dangerous to human life. It would prohibit the possession of a firearm by certain individuals previously convicted of a felony dangerous to human life within a 25-year period.
Rep. Ingram introduced an amendment to the bill in Committee.
“The Amendment removed some of the mandatory sentencing,” Ingram said.
Rep. Tim Wadsworth asked, “They can’t get probation? They can’t get community corrections? They can’t get a split sentence?”
Ingram replied, “Only if they commit the crime.”
Barry Matson is the Executive Director of the Alabama District Attorneys Association.
Rep. Allen Treadaway Chairs the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
Chairman Treadaway asked about concerns that the Judges Association had with the bill.
“We have been working with the bill for quite a long time,” Matson told the Committee. “We will continue to work on this before it gets to the floor.”
Matson explained that the Alabama Judges Association has asked that the bill be carried over in Committee. However, the amendment removing the mandatory minimums addressed the judges’ concerns. While he has not yet gotten agreement from Judge Phil Seay, head of the Judges Association – they are longtime friends, and he believes that this amendment has addressed most of the judges’ concerns with the legislation.
Alabama has the fifth highest rate of gun deaths (murder, suicide, and accidents combined) in the nation.
The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee voted to give HB301 a favorable report as amended.
The legislation could be considered by the full House of Representatives as early as Tuesday. Tuesday will be day 14 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. The Alabama Constitution of 1901 limits the regular session to a maximum of thirty legislative days in a regular session.
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