FAIRHOPE — Residents visiting many county buildings will be allowed to carry firearms under new rules approved by the county commission, but some restrictions will still apply under regulations that went into effect Jan. 1.

The commission voted to approve changes that will meet the requirements of a state law passed by the Alabama Legislature in 2022.

The act removes the requirement for people to have a permit issued by the county sheriff to carry a concealed pistol in public. The law also removes some restrictions on locations where people can carry guns.

Commissioner Jeb Ball said that while any regulations involving guns can be a sensitive subject, the commission action puts the same rules in place for county buildings that will apply in other public facilities.

"You're just getting a lot of blowback from all the Second Amendment supporters, but this kind of makes it the same type of thing as entering into a post office or bank or that kind of stuff in my mind," Ball said. "There needs to be policies in some of our buildings where we're interacting with the public and I'm all for it."

The commission action allows anyone who is allowed to carry a pistol to have the firearm in his or her possession in many county buildings.

Areas where firearms are not allowed include inside a sheriff's station, the Baldwin County Corrections Center, Juvenile Detention Center, and Community Corrections. Guns also may not be carried into the three county court facilities — the main courthouse in Bay Minette or the satellite courthouses in Fairhope and Foley.

Other restrictions include any building where an office of the district attorney is located or a building where a county commission meeting is held. Guns are also still banned in the primary offices of elected officials, according to the resolution.

Guns would also continue to be banned in any other facility where guns are not allowed under other federal or state laws or where the general public is not allowed to enter.

The county regulations prohibiting pistols in certain buildings do not apply to law enforcement officers who carry guns as part of their official duties.

Before the state act was passed anyone carrying a concealed pistol was required to obtain a permit. The permits are issued by sheriff's offices across the state for a fee.

The Baldwin County Commission also voted to allow the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office to apply for a state grant to replace the revenue generated by pistol permit fees.

The state established the Local Government Pistol Permit Loss Fund, which will distribute $5 million to sheriff's offices across the state to replace the lost revenue.

The Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts will determine how much money each county will receive.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will make grants each quarter to qualifying counties, according to county reports.