Groundhog Day comes early in Alabama this year.

By that I mean the Alabama Legislature.

By that I mean Oh no, not again! Not yet. Not in the name of Punxsutawney Phil Williams. Not yet.

But the alarm bell's ringing and Cher's singing and senators and representatives are swinging into what they call action, slingin' bills that make them feel tough and righteous but do little to help the common good or general welfare.

So business as usual, right? Right.

When the legislature convenes Tuesday it will have plenty of ways to occupy itself - apart from trying to balance a budget at a time when there's not enough money coming in and no will to bring in more. Most of the bills pre-filed this year are - shall we say - less ambitious.

Like HB19, by Rep. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Sylacauga. Call it the "It's OK to tax groceries but not my gold bill."

This bill would remove sales and use taxes from the sale of gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion. And cold, hard cash.

For those keeping count, this is Alabama Legislature's rob-from-the-poor-and-give-to-the-richer attempt No. 41,673.

Let 'em eat cake. But make them pay sales tax on it.

Rep. Jack W. Williams of Wilmer is back with his old Bambi Bait bill, Or HB21. It would authorize hunting whitetail deer or feral swine over bait.

Because, heck, Alabama doesn't even value fair play for humans. Why should dumb animals get special treatment?

And here I thought poking fun of Alabama politicians was the only way to legally hunt over a baited field.

Sen. Greg Allbritton of Montgomery found some red meat to bite into. His SB13 bill would eliminate marriage licenses altogether, along with the requirement that all marriages be "solemnized" by people authorized to perform marriage ceremonies.

Because hey, if gay people can do it, it must not be worth doing.

Call it the "Cut off your nose to spite your spiteful face bill."

SB18 Sen. Gerald Dial of Lineville, always a pre-filer to watch, brings SB18, or the "Not another Roy Moore fiasco bill." Or maybe, from where he sits, it's the "Doug Jones fiasco bill."

Because this one deals with appointments to vacancies in the U.S. Senate. It says the governor, when appointing a person to a vacant Senate seat, will "issue a writ of election to fill the office for the remainder of the term at the next general election occurring more than one year after the vacancy occurs."

Which would have given Luther Strange until this fall to fight for his senate seat.

Maybe it's the "too little too late bill."

Sen. Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa returns with an oldie but a goodie, in SB3. Call it the "If at first you don't succeed, fire again bill." He hopes to repeal a bunch of restrictions on carrying guns with or without a permit. It would, with some exceptions, repeal restrictions on guns on private property, in wildlife management areas, at demonstrations and more.

You still won't be able to bring your gun to the Senate, though. That might be dangerous.

In that vein, Rep. Lynn Greer of Rogersville is bringing back his "Alabama Church Protection Act," or HB34. It would make it clear that using deadly force goes with churches like bread and grape juice, and if you shoot somebody in self defense or in defense of another person on church grounds, you can't be held criminally liable.

Not that you would be anyway.

It's Groundhog Day all over again. They pop out of their holes Tuesday. You can already see the shadow.

John Archibald's column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Write him at jarchibald@al.com.