Sell a Gun in Alabama: Birmingham to Mobile, Every Selling Option Statewide

Complete Guide to Selling a Gun in Alabama

Alabama has historically been one of the most firearms-friendly states in the country, and that accessibility extends to the selling experience. From major metro areas like Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Mobile to rural communities across the Tennessee Valley and Gulf Coast, gun owners have multiple paths to sell firearms legally. Local gun shops and pawn shops are common in every Alabama city, gun shows rotate through convention centers statewide, online FFL buyers ship from anywhere, and private sales are legal without a background check. The state imposes no waiting period, no registration system, and no permit to purchase or own. Concealed carry has been permitless since January 2023. Recent legislative sessions have introduced some updates sellers should be aware of, while maintaining Alabama's overall permissive framework.

Private Sales: What Alabama Law Requires (and What It Doesn't)

Alabama law does not require a background check, permit, or government involvement for private firearms sales between two individuals. The state does not require identification to be presented during a private sale, does not require any paperwork to be filed with any state agency, and does not require a waiting period. This framework defaults almost entirely to federal law, which prohibits selling to anyone who is a prohibited person under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) and requires interstate sales to go through a licensed dealer.

The absence of state requirements places a meaningful burden on the seller. If you sell to someone who turns out to be a prohibited person, you may face federal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 922(d), which makes it unlawful to sell or transfer a firearm to someone you know or have reasonable cause to believe falls into a prohibited category. While Alabama does not require you to run a background check, it does penalize selling to ineligible buyers, selling defaced firearms, or selling restricted weapons such as machine guns (now including conversion devices under SB116).

The 2025 Prohibited Persons Expansion (SB119)

Before SB119, Alabama's prohibited persons list was relatively narrow: individuals convicted of crimes of violence, misdemeanor domestic violence offenses, violent offenses, or those subject to valid domestic abuse protection orders. SB119, effective October 1, 2025, expanded this list substantially. Anyone convicted of any felony is now prohibited from possessing firearms, even if the felony was non-violent. Individuals convicted of a felony within the previous five years face a prohibition, and anyone with three or more felony convictions is permanently banned. The most controversial provision makes it a Class C felony for a person to possess a firearm after being charged (not convicted) with a violent offense or domestic violence and released pending trial. This provision has drawn significant criticism from Second Amendment advocacy organizations, though it applies only if the person is ultimately convicted of the original charge or a lesser offense.

For sellers, SB119 means the pool of prohibited buyers in Alabama has grown. While the practical enforcement mechanism remains the same (sellers are not required to run checks), the legal consequences of selling to a now-prohibited person have increased.

SB116 and Machine Gun Conversion Devices

SB116 created a new state-level felony for possessing, selling, or using parts designed to convert a pistol into a machine gun. These devices, commonly known as Glock switches or auto sears, were already illegal under federal NFA law, but SB116 gives Alabama law enforcement independent authority to prosecute. The legislation was prompted by the September 2024 mass shooting in Birmingham's Five Points South neighborhood. The Class C felony carries up to 10 years imprisonment. Sellers should ensure they are not transferring any firearm parts that could be classified as conversion devices under this law.

FFL Dealer Sales in Alabama

All sales through a Federal Firearms Licensee in Alabama follow the standard federal process: the buyer completes ATF Form 4473, the dealer contacts NICS for a background check, and the transfer is completed upon approval. Alabama does not run its own state-level background check system. The NICS check typically returns results within minutes, though delays can occur. If NICS does not return a result within three business days, the dealer may (but is not required to) proceed with the transfer under federal law. Alabama has no "point of contact" system; all checks go directly through the FBI's NICS database.

Alabama Permitless Carry and Its Impact on Sellers

Alabama's 2022 passage of HB272, effective January 1, 2023, eliminated the requirement for a concealed carry permit. Any individual who is legally allowed to possess a firearm can now carry concealed without a permit. This does not change selling laws, but it does mean that the presence (or absence) of a carry permit is no longer a reliable indicator of a buyer's eligibility. Previously, some sellers used a valid Alabama concealed carry permit as informal proof of a buyer's legal eligibility. With permitless carry, that shortcut is less reliable. Alabama still issues optional concealed carry permits for reciprocity purposes (recognized by numerous other states), and sellers can still request to see one as a voluntary due diligence step.

Other Key Alabama Firearms Provisions

Alabama has no assault weapons ban and no magazine capacity restrictions. The state has preemption that prevents local governments from enacting firearms ordinances that are more restrictive than state law (Ala. Code § 11-80-11), though Montgomery attempted a local ID-requirement ordinance in September 2024. SB281, signed by Governor Ivey in May 2024, established financial privacy protections for gun owners, preventing financial institutions from using firearms-specific merchant category codes to flag or restrict transactions. Firearms cannot be possessed on school premises (a Class C felony with intent to harm under SB119), in courthouses, or in police stations without express permission.

The Simplest Path for Alabama Sellers

Whether you're in a Birmingham suburb, near Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, on the Gulf Coast in Mobile, or anywhere across Alabama's 67 counties, selling to a licensed FFL like CashMyGuns.com is the fastest path with zero legal risk. We run NICS checks on all buyers, maintain ATF-required records, verify eligibility through the federal system, and handle all compliance. The process works the same from anywhere in the state: submit your firearm details online, receive a free expert appraisal (typically within hours), ship with our prepaid insured label at no cost, and receive payment. We've processed hundreds of Alabama firearms transactions since 2013 and consistently offer more than local pawn shops and gun stores. No driving to a shop, no meeting strangers at a parking lot, no paperwork to file.