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A bill that would establish firearm hold agreements between individuals and federal firearm licensees or law enforcement officers passed both House and Senate committees last week.
HB216, introduced by Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, passed through the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and SB40, introduced by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, passed through the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee on Tuesday last week.
Within the text of these bills, federal firearm licensees and law enforcement officers can enter into an agreement to hold a firearm for a specified period of time.
The text also provides civil immunity for anyone who enters into these agreements for “any act or omission arising from a firearm hold agreement which results in personal injury or death of any individual,” which includes returning a firearm to the owner at the end of the agreement. Civil immunity would not be provided to any action that was a direct result of unlawful conduct on the licensees’ or law enforcement’s part.
The bill has been dubbed the Houston Hunter Act, named after veterans Houston Tumlin and Hunter Whitley who lost their lives to suicide. Michelle Tumlin spoke to the House Judiciary Committee about what this bill could mean for other veterans in the state.
“What this bill means to me, I said this last week, if the Houston Hunter Bill would have existed on March 23, 2021, would my son still be alive? I have to think that if this bill is passed, and one life is saved, my pain will be worth it because I miss my son every moment, everyday,” said Tumlin.
The bill could also have a positive impact on any Alabamian dealing with a mental health crisis who would want to utilize this program.
“This is going to be advertised toward our military, military veterans and first responders, but any citizen could use the service of this program,” said Bedsole.
Jason Smith, suicide prevention coordinator for the Alabama National Guard, spoke in front of the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee about the need for this bill.
“The reason for this is the way we’ve lost, in 2022, 85 percent of our veterans was by use of a firearm. We do not have a gun safe storage program in the state of Alabama. This program is designed to be confidential, voluntary, temporary and also to protect our Second Amendment rights so it’s not infringed on while we go seek mental health care,” said Smith.
Both bills passed their committees with a favorable report and move to the full House and Senate.
