Colbert County Sheriff Frank Williamson
I was asked recently exactly how the Sheriff’s Department spends the money it collects from firearm permits. The simple answer is, we follow State Law on the subject. The law specifies how every cent of that money must be spent, with no exceptions!
- Official Vehicles
- Uniforms
- Weapons
- School Resource Officers’ pay and equipment
- Training for Deputies
- Department equipment and supplies
- Training supplies such as ammunition for firing range training and patrol duties
And that’s it. Of course, let me make it clear that permit fees make up only a small portion of the money that is required to operate our Department. The bulk of our budgetary requirements come from allocations approved by the State Legislature and the Colbert County Commission, as well as special grants from State and Federal sources. Sheriffs must follow this law! To do otherwise they could be convicted of a crime, or in the least, be held personally liable for that money.
Now, speaking of firearm permits, let me take this moment to remind everyone that the law is changing here in Alabama. Beginning January 1, 2023 you will not need a permit to carry concealed unless you go out of state. To travel out of state, I recommend that the laws governing the states where you may be traveling through be reviewed so that you will not find yourself in an unwelcome and unexpected surprise should you encounter Law Enforcement in those out-of-state circumstances. Standard carry permits will still be issued by our Office after January 1. The procedure for obtaining them will be the same as it stands today.
Frank Williamson, Colbert County Sheriff
