May 21, 2013
A senate bill created by senator Tammy Irons, passed in the house yesterday.
The bill passed in the senate earlier this year with a 25 to zero vote.
Irons believes the bill needed to be created so officers who put their lives on the line every day, will be further protected.
And officers in Houston County believe this is a good thing.
"If we are able to negate that fact that he is able to go for our weapon and actually gets a good grip on it and we can still retain retention and control of the weapon and you charge them with a class C felony...that’s perfect." Houston County Sheriff Office Captain Antonio Gonzales said.
Under existing Alabama law, taking a gun from an officer is usually categorized as a small crime, like disorderly conduct.
If the bill gets signed by Governor Robert Bentley, disarming a police officer would become a class C felony.
That means a person would receive no less than one year in prison.
