State Gun Laws

In Alabama, it is against the law for the abuser to have a gun if there is a valid domestic violence protection order against them.¹ For the order to be considered valid, it must have been issued after the abuser was notified about the case and had a chance to go to a court hearing. This usually includes final protection orders, but not emergency “ex parte” orders that are given without the abuser present.²

The order must also include one or both of the following:

• Option one:
  • The order tells the abuser not to harass, stalk, threaten you or your children, or do anything that would make you or your children reasonably afraid of being physically hurt, and
  • In the order, the judge made a legal decision (called a “finding”) that the abuser is a real (“credible”) threat to your or your children’s physical safety; or
• Option two: The order clearly says the abuser cannot use, attempt to use, or threaten to use physical force that would be reasonably expected to hurt you or your children physically.²

Federal gun laws may also ban the abuser from having a gun if you have a protection order against them that meets certain requirements. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

¹ Ala. Code § 13A-11-72(a)(1)(d)
² Ala. Code § 13A-11-72(h)(8)