Alabama Toughens Penalties to Combat Drive-By Shootings and Gun Violence
Legislators in Alabama have enacted legislation that significantly increases the penalty for discharging a pistol into a home, car, or other occupied structure, a measure that is directly intended to reduce senseless gun violence.
@ClaudiasWorkshop 
The stakes are higher for those who use a firearm as a weapon of terror, according to the measure (SB119), which is sponsored by Montgomery Republican Sen. Will Barfoot. Anyone who shoots a firearm into an occupied house, building, automobile, truck, watercraft, or even a railroad car might now be charged with a Class A felony, Alabama's most serious non-capital offense, according to the new law. That entails a prison term that might range from 10 to 99 years.
A Signal More Than a Change in Policy
This is not merely another line item in a collection of lawmakers. It is an obvious indication that the state is taking a more aggressive stance against growing risks to public safety. Communities from Birmingham to Mobile have been rocked by drive-by shootings and other acts of weapon violence in recent years; families caught in the crossfire frequently suffer terrible, lasting effects.
In her 2025 State of the State address, Governor Kay Ivey made this legislation a top priority, describing it as a component of a larger drive to create Alabama a
Stricter Regulation of Convicted Criminals
Stricter sentences is just one aspect of the law. Additionally, it tightens the net around people who have already shown a lack of concern for public safety by extending gun ownership prohibitions for those with prior offenses.
Proponents contend that by preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are most prone to abuse them, this additional safeguard could help avert catastrophes in the future. However, detractors warn that the state must also protect due process and refrain from enforcing the law too broadly, which would disproportionately harm communities that are already oppressed.
The Effect in the Real World
This law's primary goal is to serve as a deterrence. It conveys the message that shooting into a house, whether intentionally or carelessly, will not be tolerated. There will not be much room for leniency, and the repercussions will be dire.
It also speaks to a bigger trend across the country, as states battle with how to combat gun violence in ways that are both aggressive and fair. In an attempt to slow the tide, Alabama's new strategy mostly relies on the former.
In addition to enforcement, community investment and violence prevention tactics that complement tough-on-crime policies will determine whether or not that gamble is successful.
