HB434 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Juandalynn GivanRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Assault weapons, prohibit sale or transfer of an assault weapon to anyone under 21 years of age, to prohibit anyone under 21 years of age from possessing an assault weapon

Summary

HB 434 would bar anyone under 21 from buying, transferring, or possessing an assault weapon in Alabama, with felony penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill would prohibit selling or transferring an assault weapon to a person under 21 and would also ban possession of an assault weapon by someone under 21. Violations would be felonies: selling or transferring to a minor would be a Class B felony; possessing an assault weapon under 21 would be a Class C felony. The bill defines what counts as an assault weapon and lists certain exemptions (antique firearms, permanently inoperable firearms, or manually operated actions). It would take effect on the first day of the third month after the bill becomes law, and it includes language about local funding requirements related to Amendment 621 of the Alabama Constitution.

Who It Affects

• Individuals under 21 years old: would be prohibited from possessing an assault weapon and could face a Class C felony if they possess one.
• People or entities who sell or transfer assault weapons: would commit a Class B felony if they sell or transfer an assault weapon to someone under 21.

Key Provisions

• Defines assault weapon to include certain semi-automatic rifles, pistols, or shotguns with specific features or detachable magazines, and sets a capacity threshold (more than 10 rounds). Excludes antique firearms, permanently inoperable firearms, and manually operated bolt/pump/lever/slide actions.
• Prohibits sale or transfer of an assault weapon to a person under 21; making such sale or transfer a Class B felony.
• Prohibits possession of an assault weapon by a person under 21; making possession a Class C felony.
• Specifies that penalties in the act are in addition to other penalties and do not replace existing penalties.
• Effective date is the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.
• Includes a Constitutional note about local funding ( Amendment 621 ); the bill is designed to be exempt from certain local-funding approval rules because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Assault Weapons