By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Gov. Kay Ivey recently signed legislation aimed at curbing gun violence and other violent crimes within the state.
The new law imposes stiffer penalties on those who use firearms in the commission of a crime, and on parolees and probationers who are found to be in possession of a gun. It also expands the bail provisions and restrictions of the state’s Aniah’s Law.
Senate Bill 119 makes it a Class C felony for a person who has been convicted of any felony offense within the past five years, or three felony offenses at any time, to possess a firearm. The bill criminalizes, too, firearm possession by individuals who are out on bail for a wide range of offenses, especially violent crimes, making such possession a Class C felony.
The new law also upgrades the felony classification for shooting into an occupied dwelling, elevating it to Class A, the highest felony level and one that carries harsher sentencing guidelines. Such a crime was formerly a Class B felony.
SB 119 includes an expansion of the crimes under which Aniah’s Law — a constitutional amendment approved by Alabama voters in 2022 ¬— governs bail eligibility.
The statute formerly applied mainly to murder, rape and kidnapping. It now includes shooting into an occupied dwelling and the solicitation of murder, attempted murder or conspiracy to commit murder.
Most of SB119’s provisions, except the revamped Aniah’s Law, will go into effect on October 1. The Aniah’s Law amendment will take effect upon ratification by voters.
The governor said shortly after signing the bill into law that it will “help get more bad guys off our streets to ensure safety in our communities.”