Police Arrest Three Drivers With Stolen Guns in 5 Days-What You Need to Know
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
October 22, 2025
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. In the past five days, three people have been arrested for having guns that had been stolen. All three were driving when police stopped each of them for a traffic violation.
During the interactions between the law enforcement officers and the drivers, police either observed a firearm in plain view or asked the driver if there were any firearms in the vehicle, which is a standard question during most interactions with the police.
In most states, when a police officer asks a person if they are carrying a firearm or if one is in the vehicle and they lie, the person may be charged with a crime, including obstructing a law enforcement officer.
Since January 1, 2023, Alabama has been a “permitless carry” state, also known as a “Constitutional” Carry state. This law eliminated the need to apply to their county sheriff’s office for a concealed gun permit, and it requires no training.
However, other requirements must be met, such as no felony convictions, no drug abuse, and you must be 19 years or older, who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm by state or federal law.
While Alabama law prohibits the state from creating a registry of firearms, police can still check a gun’s serial number, particularly if it’s in plain view. The ability to do so is based on general police powers and the plain view doctrine, and the new law doesn’t change this fundamental principle.
A police officer may also take and secure a person’s firearm for the officer’s safety during any interaction, especially if the armed person is being questioned about a violation of the law or is suspected of committing a crime.
In doing this, law enforcement may, without the firearm owner’s permission, check the serial number in the National Crime Information Center database to ensure that the weapon is not stolen and has not been used in a crime.
Permitless carry does not grant the right to carry a weapon everywhere. Firearms are still prohibited in many sensitive locations, including:
A person may NOT carry a firearm without the express consent of the person or entity with the authority of the premises on the following properties:
Inside of a Police, Sheriff or highway patrol station
Inside or on the premises of a prison, jail, halfway house, community corrections facility, or other detention facility
Inside any facility that provides inpatient or custodial care of those with psychiatric, mental, or emotional disorders.
Inside a courthouse, courthouse annex, a building in which a district attorney’s office is located, or a building in which a county commission or city council is currently having a regularly scheduled or specially called meeting.
Inside any facility hosting an athletic event not related to or involving firearms, which is sponsored by a private or public elementary or secondary school or any private or public institution of postsecondary education, unless that person has a valid permit.
Inside any facility hosting a professional athletic event, not related to or involving firearms, unless that person has a valid permit.
Inside any building or facility where access of unauthorized persons and prohibited articles is limited during normal hours of operation by the continuous posting of guards or the use of other security features that prevent all persons entering the facility from bringing prohibited items into the facility.
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