HB123 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Barbara DrummondRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to firearms; to amend Section 13A-11-72, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide a criminal penalty for a parent or legal guardian who fails to reasonably secure their firearm resulting in their minor possessing the firearm on the premises of a public school; to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

Summary

HB123 would require parents or guardians to reasonably secure their firearms to prevent minors from taking them to public schools, and would make a Class C felony for a parent’s failure to secure a gun that allows a minor to possess it on school grounds, while updating language and clarifying funding implications.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds a storage duty for parents or guardians to keep firearms secure so a minor cannot access them. If a minor gains access and possesses the firearm on a public school premises because of the parent or guardian's failure to secure it, the parent or guardian would be guilty of a Class C felony. It also provides numerous supervised and permitted scenarios where a minor may handle or possess a firearm (such as hunter education, range practice, organized competitions, hunting or fishing with permission, or travel with proper safeguards). The bill does not apply if the minor uses a firearm in self defense in a residence. It also updates existing language and notes that the bill may involve local funding, but it is exempt from needing a local government 2/3 vote due to constitutional exceptions, with an effective date set after passage.

Who It Affects

• Parents or guardians of minors: must securely store firearms to prevent minor access; could face a Class C felony if failure leads to a minor possessing a gun at a public school.
• Public school students and their families: subject to new storage rules and the permitted exception scenarios that allow supervised or permitted firearm activities, and could be impacted by enforcement of the new rule.

Key Provisions

• Storage requirement: a parent or guardian must store firearms so they reasonably secure the firearm from unauthorized or unlawful access by the minor.
• Penalty: if a minor gains access and unlawfully possesses the firearm on public school premises due to the parent's or guardian's failure to secure it, the parent or guardian is guilty of a Class C felony.
• Exceptions and allowances: minors may possess or handle firearms in specified supervised or permitted contexts (hunter education, range practice, organized competitions, hunting or fishing with license and permission, on property under control of the guardian, armed services duty, or traveling with proper permissions and secured storage). Self defense in residence is exempt from the rule.
• Updates and funding note: the bill makes nonsubstantive technical updates to current language and notes potential local funding implications, but is exempt from requiring local government approval by 111.05 constitutional exceptions; it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Firearms, establishes penalty for parent of minor in possession on school premises