Attorney General says city can’t bar guns at its properties

Published 10:34 pm Thursday, December 10, 2015

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange issued a statement Wednesday saying the city of Selma can’t ban guns from city-owned properties.

Those buildings include the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center, the Joe T. Smitherman Historic Building (Vaughan-Smitherman Museum), the Walton Theater, the St. James Hotel, Selma City Hall, the Selma-Dallas County Public Library, the Larry D. Striplin Performing Arts Center, the Central Alabama Animal Shelter, the Selma Interpretive Center and the Ceramic Art Program in the Old Dallas Academy Building.

The statement comes after Strange’s office received a complaint Sept. 11 about firearm bans at each of the properties.

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According to the attorney general’s office, Strange talked with city attorney Jimmy Nunn and the city has removed signs prohibiting guns from the buildings.

Because the signs have been taken down, the attorney general’s office said it will not file a lawsuit.

The complaint sent to Strange also addressed language the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office used in granting pistol permits that said permits aren’t valid if the holder is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Strange said state law does not allow a sheriff to place conditions on issuing pistol permits.

“The sheriff agreed that the language of the permit should be changed. Because the pistol permits now are compliant with Alabama law, the Attorney General will not bring an enforcement action,” Strange wrote.

Attempts to reach Selma Mayor George Evans, City Attorney Jimmy Nunn and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office for comment late Thursday afternoon were unsuccessful. Check back for updates on this story.