Alabama lawmakers have given final passage to a bill to increase the penalty for firing a gun into a home or vehicle.
SB119 by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Montgomery, will also expand prohibitions on gun possession for people convicted of crimes.
The legislation is one of the public safety bills Gov. Kay Ivey said was a top goal during her state of the state address to open the legislative session back in February.
Under the bill, firing a gun into an occupied dwelling or building, automobile, truck, watercraft, or railroad car would be a Class A felony, punishable by 10 years to 99 years in prison.
The crime would be a Class C felony if the dwelling, building, or vehicle is not occupied. Class C felonies carry a penalty of one to 10 years in prison.
The House passed Barfoot’s bill by a vote of 66-0 with 37 abstentions. It passed the Senate 26-1 three weeks ago.
The bill now goes to Ivey, who can sign it into law.