Governor Kay Ivey has signed into law Alabama Senate Bill 284 (House Bill 433), lowering the pistol permit price in DeKalb County from $25 to $15.  The new price is now in effect.  The pistol permit price for DeKalb County was set by a local bill passed in Montgomery in 1991, and to change the price it required passage of a bill in this spring’s legislative session.  Since taking office on January 1st of this year (2019), Sheriff Nick Welden lobbied to reduce the price in keeping with his campaign promise. This led to Senator Steve Livingston and House Majority Leader Representative Nathaniel Ledbetter carrying bills in the house and senate to reduce the price.

The bill also sets the price for active first responders (police, firefighters and EMS) with a department ID or a letter from their department head at $1.00 per year.  Senior citizens 62 years of age and older are also eligible to continue receiving a permit for $1.00 per year.

DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the bill passage: “One main goal since taking office has been reducing the permit price. Due to the price being set in the Alabama Legislature, it took some time to get the bills passed in Montgomery.”  “We’re also proud to offer the permits to first responders for a dollar. This day in age, our first responders need to be able to defend themselves; as any emergency call can be dangerous,” he said. “I’d also like to thank Senator Steve Livingston and Representative Nathaniel Ledbetter for helping us get this done. They were extremely helpful in getting the price reduced,” he added.