Alabama

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Alabama

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Alabama. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the territorial period to the present.

Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and select municipal ordinances.
Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, company records, and oral histories tied to Alabama people and places.
Research outputs: technical reports, academic studies, training manuals, and curated datasets relevant to the state.

Cite the Firearms Research Center and the item’s handle/DOI when using materials. Rights and licensing vary by item.

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Now showing 1 - 27 of 27

2026-10-01 Attribution Test - For Other
(2026)
2026-10-01 Attribution Test #4
(2026-10-01)
Alabama TEST submission
(2026)
1886 Ala. Laws 36
(1886)
Imposed occupational tax of three hundred dollars on dealers of pistols, pistol cartridges, Bowie-knives, and dirks
1892 Ala. Laws 292
(1892)
Approved the town of Demopolis to require licensing but also placed a maximum license fee of one hundred dollars on dealers of pistols, pistol cartridges, bowie knives, dirk knives. Gun shops, or gun repair shops capped at five dollars.
1898 Ala. Laws 190
(1898)
Placed a one hundred dollar tax on dealers of pistols, Bowie knives, or dirk knives of one hundred dollars. Also taxed dealers of pistol and rifle cartridges at ten dollars.
A Revised Code of Ordinances of the City of Tuscaloosa 163 (1885)
(1885)
Prohibited keeping more than twenty-five pounds of gun powder or other explosive. Also prohibited sale of gun powder by artificial light.
1899 Ala. Laws 154
(1899)
Prohibited the discharge of any gun, pistol, or other firearm on a passenger train. Also prohibited reckless handling of any firearm or other weapon in the presence of other people on trains. Violators fined not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceeding twelve months, or both at discretion of the court.
W.M. S. Thorington, The Code of Ordinances of the City Council of Montgomery 223, 225, 229 (1888)
(1888)
These ordinances restrict the use, possession, and transport of weapons and explosives: firing guns in public is banned except for self-defense or law enforcement, and discharging firearms or fireworks requires official permission; carrying concealed weapons is prohibited and punishable by fines or hard labor, though fear of attack may mitigate the offense; and transporting gunpowder must be done safely and out of public view.
A Revised Code of Ordinances of the City of Tuscaloosa 170 (1885)
(1885)
Prohibited carrying concealed any brass knuckles, slung-shot, or other weapon of like kind, or carries a rifle, shot gun walking cane. Violators fined not exceeding one hundred dollars, and may be imprisoned, or put to hard labor not exceeding sixty days.
A Revised Code of Ordinances of the City of Tuscaloosa 149-50 (1885)
(1885)
Prohibited use of firearms while fighting in a public place, except for in self defense. On conviction, violator shall pay a fine of no more than $25 and face imprisonment or work for the city for a period not exceeding 30 days.
1892 Ala. Laws 183
(1892)
Imposed $300 occupational tax on dealers of pistols, pistol cartridges, Bowie knives, and dirk knives, and clarified that cartridges that can be used in a pistol shall be deemed pistol cartridges.
1890 Ala. Laws 1317
(1890)
Approved the town of Decatur to require licensing but also placed a maximum license fee of one hundred dollars on dealers of pistols, pistol cartridges, bowie knives, dirk knives.Gun shops, or gun repair shops capped at ten dollars.
1936 Ala. Laws 51-54
(1936)
The Uniform Firearms Act of 1936 established a comprehensive regulatory framework for the possession, sale, and carriage of pistols (defined as firearms with barrels under twelve inches) to aid in the suppression of "crimes of violence." The Act mandates that individuals must obtain a license from local authorities to carry a pistol—excepting law enforcement, military personnel, and certain merchants—and strictly prohibits possession by those previously convicted of violent crimes. It regulates commercial transactions by requiring retail licenses, a 48-hour waiting period for deliveries, and detailed record-keeping for every sale, while also forbidding the transfer of weapons to minors, drug addicts, or those of "unsound mind." Furthermore, the law increases penalties for crimes committed while armed, prohibits the alteration of identification marks, and sets a uniform fine of up to $500 or one year of imprisonment for any violations of its provisions.
1894 Ala. Laws 616
(1894)
Approved the town of Columbia to require licensing but also placed a maximum license fee of one hundred dollars on dealers of pistols, pistol cartridges, bowie knives, dirk knives. Gun shops, or gun repair shops capped at five dollars.
1888-89 Ala. Laws 82
(1889)
Prohibited associating, assembling, congregating together for the purpose of drilling, parading, or marching, or bearing arms in such capacity. Violators guilty a misdemeanor & fined not more than one thousand dollars.
A Revised Code of Ordinances of the City of Tuscaloosa 161 (1885)
(1885)
§ 375 prohibited discharging a gun, pistol, or other fire-arm within the corporate limits of Tuscaloosa. Violators fined not exceeding twenty-five dollars. § 376 prohibited shooting gravel or other substance with a. gravel-shooter, sling-shot, or other implement of like kind within the city. Violators fined not exceeding five dollars.
1909 Ala. Laws 258
(1909)
This Alabama legislative act establishes a general prohibition against carrying a concealed pistol or carrying any pistol on property not owned or controlled by the individual. While it provides exemptions for specific law enforcement and federal officials, it mandates penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment or hard labor for violators. Notably, the act allows defendants to present evidence of a "good reason" to fear an attack as a potential justification or means to reduce the fine, though the burden of proof for such an excuse rests entirely on the defendant during trial.
1887 Ala. Code 194
(1887)
Imposed a tax of $300 on the sale of pistols, pistol cartridges, Bowie knives, and dirk knives. Imposed $25 tax on shooting galleries.
1880-81 Ala. Laws 38-39
(1881)
Prohibited the concealed carrying of any Bowie knife, or any other knife of like kind or description, pistol, or firearm of " any other kind or description," or air gun. Punishable by fine of $50-300 and imprisonment of not more than 6 months. Further provided that fines collected under the statute would be monetary and not in-kind payments.
1887 Ala. Code 93
(1887)
These statutes prohibit dangerous and irresponsible uses of weapons in public settings. They make it illegal to use or attempt to use firearms while fighting in public places (unless in self-defense), punishable by fines and possible jail or hard labor. They also ban discharging firearms along or across public roads, with smaller fines attached. Additionally, they forbid selling, giving, or lending pistols or certain knives (like bowie knives) to boys under eighteen, with penalties ranging from moderate to significant fines. Finally, they prohibit the storage of more than 50 punds of gunpowder.
1894-95 Ala. Laws 1081
(1895)
Authorized the mayor and aldermen of Tuskaloosa to collect an annual tax and license, regulate, restrain, or prohibit dealers in pistols, pistol cartridges, Bowie knives, dirk knives, gun shops, or gun repair shops.
1907 Ala. Laws 80
(1907)
Prohibited the selling or bartering any pistol of less than twenty-four inches in length of barrel or any brass knucks, metallic knucks, dirks, slungshot, Bowie knives, or knife of like kind. Violators fined not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars, and perhaps also sentenced to hard labor not less than one nor more than three months. Likewise, prohibited possession of these weapons off of one's property.
The Code of City of Birmingham, Alabama 662 (1917)
(1917)
Prohibited carrying firearms and throwing stones (or other missiles) in any public parks.
1898-99 Ala. Laws 1046
(1899)
Granted the town the authority to regulate, tax, and license dealers in Pistols, pistol cartridges, Bowie knives, and dirk knives. Licenses shall not exceed fifty dollars.
1897 Ala. Code 171
(1897)
Prohibited presenting any gun, pistol, or other firearm at another person. Footnote states the law not intended to violate one's constitutional right to self-defense.
A Revised Code of Ordinances of the City of Tuscaloosa 162 (1885)
(1885)
§ 380; Prohibited carrying concealed a Bowie-knife, any other knife of like kind, dirk, pistol, other fire-arms of like kind. Violators fined not exceeding fifty dollars and possibly sentenced to hard labor not exceeding sixty days.

Alabama

Alabama

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