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(Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

An Alabama Senate committee today approved a bill that would repeal the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed handgun.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, by a vote of 6-3 after a public hearing.

It moves to the Senate for consideration.

Gun rights advocates spoke in favor of the bill, saying people should not have to get a permit to exercise their Second Amendment right.

Law enforcement officers who spoke in opposition to the bill said the permit requirement is an important tool for them.

The vote was split along party lines.

Voting for the bill were Sens. Greg Reed, R-Jasper; Clay Scofield, R-Guntersville; Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia; Cam Ward, R-Alabaster; Tom Whatley, R-Auburn; and Phil Williams, R-Rainbow City.

Voting against it were Sens. Linda Coleman-Madison; Hank Sanders, D-Selma and Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro.

Singleton vowed to do everything he could to block the bill on the Senate floor.

Ward said to expect a "long a robust debate" in the Senate.

While several law enforcement officials spoke in opposition to the law, Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale urged lawmakers to pass it. Hale said the requirement to buy a permit is an infringement on the Second Amendment.

Hale also said sheriffs should not depend on pistol permit fees for funding.

"Adequate funding is a responsibility of the county commissions," Hale said. "it's the sheriff's responsibility to request that funding."

Alabama Sheriffs Association President Wally Olson said repealing the permit requirement would handcuff law enforcement in certain instances.

"When we in law enforcement encounter people who may be carrying a weapon we have laws, laws that were passed by legislatures before you, which allow us to be able to take actions when needed," Olson said. "And who knows, these actions may one day save the life of one of your family members.

"If that law enforcement officer doesn't have these laws on the books, and he sees someone who has a weapon, he really has no reason to approach him and talk to him at all if this legislation passes."

Proponents of the bill noted that Alabama law does not prohibit people from openly carrying a holstered pistol. There's no permit requirement for openly carrying.

"Why do I have to have a license to carry a gun under a coat whenever I can take the coat off and carry the gun anyway?" George Owens of Alabama Guns Rights asked. "It's a coat. It's not a disguise. It's not a ski mask."

Eddie Fulmer, president of Bama Carry, said pistol permits are not crime stoppers. Fulmer spoke in support of Allen's bill.

"What we all really know, if we have the courage to admit it, is the fact that no piece of paper will ever stop an evil person from doing an evil deed or committing a crime," Fulmer said.

Anne Leader of Auburn, a member of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said repealing the permit requirement would put communities at risk.

"Our permitting system helps protect Alabama residents, Alabama families and Alabama law enforcement officers," Leader said.

Capt. Michael Salomonsky of the Madison County Sheriff's Department was the last person to speak at the public hearing and urged lawmakers to reject Allen's bill.

He said the permit law is an important tool to potentially prevent crimes and solve others.

"They give us the ability to arrest people who conceal weapons who don't have permits," Salomonsky said. "That's what it does. As a result of that, we have solved homicides. We have solved robberies across this state."

Edited at 3:31 p.m. on March 3 to correct name of organization: Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.