A new law that may hold parents responsible if their child brings a gun to school has been presented in the Alabama Legislature.
A Class A misdemeanor would be imposed on parents whose children are found in possession of an unlocked handgun at school under House Bill 103, which was first introduced in prior years.
If investigators find that the pistol was not stored properly and safely, parents may be charged with a crime under this bill.
In Alabama, a Class A misdemeanor carries serious consequences, such as a fine of up to $6,000 and the potential for up to a year in jail.
This is the third year in a row that Mobile Democrat Representative Barbara Drummond has introduced this measure.
“It is not if it will happen in Alabama, but when will it happen, when will we have a school shooting,” Drummond stated. “That is the purpose of this bill. That’s why I filed it again this year. It is terribly important to me that we safeguard the welfare of our children as well as those who are educating our children.”
As a gun owner himself, Drummond is committed to seeing this law approved with some modifications to meet the interests and concerns of the general population.
“My gun is locked up,” Drummond stated. “It cannot be accessed by any of my children or grandchildren. Only I can get to this weapon. And this is what I’m saying: lock the gun up so it won’t appear on our school campuses.”
Given the startling increase in occurrences involving children bringing firearms to school, she feels that appropriate gun storage is crucial to preventing tragedies in Alabama schools.
Drummond’s concern for pupils’ safety is the driving force for the bill. She underlined how important it is to secure firearms to keep them out of the wrong hands and to prevent mishaps that could have disastrous outcomes.
The purpose of the bill is to make parents responsible for making sure that their firearms are kept in a secure location that can only be opened with a key, code, or biometric access, such as a locked box, gun safe, or trigger lock.
Drummond has worked to make sure that this law is sensible and equitable for all Alabamans. She has accounted for exceptions, such as those people who hunt frequently.
In an attempt to increase the bill’s acceptance, Drummond has also held talks with some of her Republican colleagues.
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She aims to strike a compromise between gun rights and public safety. She believes that the bill this year will be able to garner enough support to become law.
The bill will go into effect on October 1st if it is adopted, giving parents a precise date on when they must follow the new guidelines for gun storage.
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Although some people have supported the bill, others who think it violates the Second Amendment or places needless restrictions on law-abiding gun owners are likely to oppose it.
However, Representative Drummond is still dedicated to pushing for the bill’s approval because he thinks it is a crucial step in protecting student safety and averting school shootings.
House Bill 103 is available online for interested parties to read in its entirety.
