Alabama law generally prohibits knowingly, with intent to do bodily harm, carrying or possessing a firearm on the premises of a public school, however, concealed handgun license holders are exempt from this prohibition.¹ The term “public school” applies only to a school composed of grades K-12, but includes a school bus used for grades K-12.²

In 2022, Alabama placed restrictions on colleges and universities that regulate firearms on their campuses.³ The new law allows the governing body of each two-year or four-year institution of higher education to adopt policies governing the possession of firearms or other weapons on grounds owned or controlled by the institution subject to the following conditions:

• The policy must allow for individuals not otherwise prohibited from possession of a firearm by state or federal law to possess a firearm in the individual’s privately owned motor vehicle while parked or operated on the grounds of the institution; provided, that the individual satisfies all of the following conditions:
  • If the firearm is a handgun, the individual is not generally prohibited from possession of a handgun by state or federal law.
    
  • If the firearm is any firearm legal for use for hunting in Alabama other than a pistol:
    • The individual possesses a valid Alabama hunting license.
      
    • The firearm is unloaded at all times on the grounds.
      
    • It is during a season in which hunting is permitted by Alabama law or regulation.
      
    • The individual has never been convicted of any crime of violence as defined by state law, nor of any crimes set forth in Chapter 6 of Title 13A, Code of Alabama 1975, nor is subject to a domestic violence order, as defined by state law.
      
    • The individual has no documented prior incidents on the grounds of the institution involving the threat of physical injury or which resulted in physical injury to another.
  • The motor vehicle is operated or parked in a location where it is otherwise permitted to be.
    
  • The firearm is either of the following:
    
    • In a motor vehicle attended by the individual, kept from ordinary observation within the individual’s motor vehicle.
      
    • In a motor vehicle unattended by the individual, kept from ordinary observation and locked within a compartment, container, or in the interior of the individual’s privately owned motor vehicle or in a compartment or container securely affixed to the motor vehicle.

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1. Ala. Code § 13A-11-72. The term “deadly weapon” includes any firearm. Ala. Code § 13A-11-72.[↩]
2. Id.[↩]
3. 2022 AL HB 272, effective Jan. 1, 2023.[↩]