PHOTO: State Representative Ed Henry (R - Hartselle) is currently running for the U.S. Senate seat, and discusses protecting and expanding Second Amendment rights with the Southern Torch. (Ed Henry | Twitter)
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The race for the U.S. Senate seat is just getting started, with some candidates officially announcing, while others consider getting into the race. The primary will be held on August 15th of this year, with the general election being held on December 12th. The Republican primary already promises to be crowded, as Former Chief Justice Roy Moore and former Attorney General Luther Strange are already declared candidates, along with Senator Del Marsh (R - Anniston) considering a run. The deadline to qualify is May 17th.
Representative Ed Henry (R - Hartselle) has also declared his candidacy for the race, and declared shortly after the new special election date was announced by Governor Kay Ivey. Henry represents Alabama's 9th District in the state legislature, and did an interview with the Southern Torch late Tuesday (May 2) on second amendment issues and his campaign.
"It's definitely a constant fight," said Henry, after being asked about the fight to expand our constitutional rights in regards to firearms. Henry then gave an update on the current efforts to do so in Montgomery:
"Just today I was talking with the chairman of the committee on public safety to get our permitless carry bill through committee," stated Henry. "It doesn't look like it's going to make it. We don't think we have the votes to get it through committee and pass."
The bill Henry is referring to, a bill to remove the requirement for a pistol permit, had passed a senate vote two weeks ago. The house version, House Bill 414, is currently being considered in the Public Safety Committee before being allowed to come to vote before the full house. The bill is popular with gun owners in the state, but has drawn a backlash from most sheriffs in the state, who collect fees for the permits when issued.
"We need to basically free up the rights of Alabamians to carry a firearm. It's crazy that right now, that you have to go pay a sheriff's department to secure your right to carry a firearm. The Alabama Constitution assures your right to carry, and to carry open. So the idea that I carry concealed somehow diminishes my right is absurd, really," said Henry.
[blockquote style="2"]We need to basically free up the rights of Alabamians to carry a firearm. It's crazy that right now, that you have to go pay a sheriff's department to secure your right to carry a firearm. The Alabama Constitution assures your right to carry, and to carry open. So the idea that I carry concealed somehow diminishes my right is absurd, really. [/blockquote]
Rep. Henry then discussed a possible compromise in the event the current carry bill doesn't make it: ""One thing we are looking at doing at a state level is a compromise that may come out, because it's all about taking steps, we didn't loose our rights in a year or two, we lost them over decades of liberal agendas," he said.
"One compromise that we may have come out, we will allow the sheriff's to still issue permits, or we may move it to a state level, but not charge anything for it. One of the things that will most likely happen, once there is not any money involved, you'll find that the Sheriff's Association will probably pull back on fighting for those permits. Right now there is millions and millions of dollars generated off the pistol permits, and that's really what the fight is over, is the money," said Henry.
"Let's take away the money, and we'll let them keep the enforcement mechanisms, what they call safeguards for society, and let's see after two or three years, are the permits as important as when the money was involved?" stated Henry.
"Representative Isaac Whorton (R - Valley) has done a fantastic job and is carrying the bill this year, and I think next year he'll probably have landmark legislation to move us closer to a permitless carry state," said Henry.
Henry was then asked what could be done at the Federal level to better protect and expand second amendment rights.
"We need to relax some of the federal laws on the books that prevent citizens from access to firearms, especially silencers. The laws on the books are extremely arcaic and cumbersome. I've noticed over the years that it keeps getting harder and harder to buy things like silencers," explained Henry.
Henry is referring to the National Firearms Act (NFA) which is handled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This regulates civilian access to silencers, machine guns, and short-barreled rifles. Civilians may own these items, but not without going through an extensive, and time-consuming process through the federal government, which is constantly changing what defines firearms and accessories that fall into this category.
"I recently went on an authorized hunting trip with a silencer. It was more like bow hunting. You take the shot, and it doesn't reek havoc in the woods. Alabama allows this kind of hunting, but it's so painful to get a silencer," said Henry.
"If someone is going to break the law, they are going to break the law. All we are doing is restricting law abiding citizens, over and over again. At the (U.S.) Senate level, there is plenty we can do, even to the point of making sure we get justices on the supreme court that do not infringe on the second amendment," explained Henry.
[blockquote style="2"]"If someone is going to break the law, they are going to break the law. All we are doing is restricting law abiding citizens, over and over again. At the (U.S.) Senate level, there is plenty we can do, even to the point of making sure we get justices on the supreme court that do not infringe on the second amendment."[/blockquote]
Henry was then asked about the atmosphere surrounding the senate race after the new special election date was announced by Governor Ivey, and allegations against former-Attorney General Luther Strange that he suspended the investigation into former-Governor Robert Bentley to get appointed to the seat.
"From what I can tell, I've been traveling around the state for the last week, week and half, speaking to different groups about my candidacy, every group I've spoken to has been thrilled that Governor Ivey moved the date to August 15. They were very dissatisfied with Robert Bentley's appointment and the atmosphere surrounding appointment the Attorney General who's been involved in pausing the impeachment," said Henry.
"They are ready to put that whole saga behind them," said Henry. "This allows us sooner than later to move beyond the quagmire and stagnation that has surrounded the last couple of years of Robert Bentley's administration."
Henry also related that he's already found motivated volunteers and supporters across the state and that a recent straw poll conducted by the University of South Alabama College Republicans, showed him with 90 percent of their vote.
"As far as volunteers and people helping in the race, at every event I've been two, we've had three fourths of the groups members sign up to help with the campaign," stated Henry.
Henry also described the uphill battle against Luther Strange, who is currently occupying the seat and commands the support of, "elitist in D.C." Henry also reported that consultants in D.C. were being threatened with retaliation if they work against Strange. Senator Del Marsh also told Al.com's Kyle Whitmire yesterday that consultants were being threatened if they work for him on his possible run.
"The daunting task is how much the elitist in D.C. are putting behind Luther Strange. They've promised millions and millions of dollars to keep him in office, and have gone to the lengths of threatening consultants who may work against Luther Strange with no more business out of D.C.," said Henry.
"To me as an Alabamian, I'm tired of D.C. trying to dictate to us who our choices are gonna be. I believe the people of Alabama are fed up with it, and that's why we had Donald Trump," he added.
According to Henry, he was the first public official to endorse Trump, and, "ended up being the Chairman for his campaign, and as the campaign grew, we ended up taking on two co-chairs: One in Birmingham and on in Montgomery."
"We were all fed up with this elitist, political class, really is what it is, it's a class of people in the country, D.C., and even in Montgomery, that believe that they are the heir to all these things, that by their being they believe they have right to these positions," he said.
"That's why I'm in the race, to give the people of Alabama another choice than this elitist, political class," concluded Henry.
