ALABAMA (WDHN) — Governor Kay Ivey has announced the start of grants for all Alabama sheriff’s to make up for the loss of pistol permit fees.

The number of funds given to each county will be based on money that county sheriff departments collected on permit fees in 2022.

Under the Local Government Pistol Permit Revenue Loss Fund, sheriff’s around the state must show a loss of pistol permit funds based on the 2022 figures.

In March 2022, Governor Ivey signed a bill into law making it legal for Alabamamians to carry concealed handguns without a license.

This makes it so that citizens no longer have to purchase a concealed carry license from local sheriff departments.

The new law took effect on January 1, 2023.

According to Governor Ivey, the grants will be used to provide training, equipment, and other needs not provided by the county commission in their annual appropriations.

A couple of core tenants of the Ivey Administration is that we back the blue in the strongest way possible and that we support upholding our citizens’ Second Amendment rights. As we have amended Alabama law to help our gun owners, we also worked to ensure our sheriffs received their critical funds, and I am proud that these grants will do that.

Governor Ivey

The Alabama Sheriff’s Association responded to the announcement from Ivey’s Office, thanking the governor and members of the Legislature for creating the grant program to partially fill the void in department funding.

We look forward to working with the Governor and Alabama’s leaders in the upcoming legislative session to ensure that these funds are permanently allocated and sufficient to restore our ability to fulfill our sworn duty to protect and serve all of Alabama’s citizens.

 Alabama Sheriffs Association