BAY MINETTE — Baldwin County commissioners are debating how a state law going into effect in January will affect people carrying guns into public buildings.

The law, Act 2022-133, was passed by the Alabama Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey earlier this year. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2023.

The act removes the requirement that people 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.

Commission Chairman Charles “Skip” Gruber said county officials are going over the law to determine what action to take for local public buildings.

“That's going to be a pretty complicated,” Gruber said. “What people can carry now, what we feel they can't carry in.

“I know (in) the court system (buildings) they can't carry in, but the rest of them, by law they're allowed to carry it in unless we change it."

Commissioner Jeb Ball said current state law already allows residents to carry unconcealed weapons in most circumstances.

“The law always has been in the state of Alabama open carry, there was no law saying you couldn't carry a pistol as long as it's visible to the side,” Ball said. “You can wear it however you want to. There's no permit. What this is, it's done away with a concealed weapons permit, which means you don't have to have a permit any more to conceal a weapon.”

He said some residents who want to carry concealed weapons outside Alabama will still need to get permits. Some states that still require permits for concealed weapons will honor permits from other states.

“There're no more ramifications. You don't have to go to the sheriff's office and get a card unless you want to because some other states don't allow you to have a pistol without a card,” Ball said.

He said that because most county buildings do not have metal detectors or other security checks, many people coming into public facilities are already carrying guns.

“Unless you have a metal detector like they do at the courthouse, it doesn't matter what the sign says. It's just going to, I guess, cover us as far as what we feel like is unsafe territory for people to carry weapons. But I can promise you that in all the facilities that we have right now, minus the courthouses, people carry guns in there.”

Under the new law, guns can still be prohibited in courthouses and court annexes. The law, however, states the ban only applies in facilities where court activities are taking place.

Guns may also still be banned at police stations and sheriff’s offices, athletic events and buildings where county commission or city council meetings are being held, according to the bill.