State Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, has altered a piece of legislation that would change the state's concealed carry gun laws, but not enough for at least one local sheriff.

As originally written, Beason's bill would have made Alabama a "shall issue" state, meaning sheriffs lose discretion in issuing concealed carry pistol permits.

The re-worked bill says sheriffs can deny the permit, if they can document specific actions in the last two years that show the person "is likely to use a weapon unlawfully or in such other manner that would endanger the person's self or others."

"They have to have a reason (to deny) and they have to give you that reason," Beason said last week. "I think that's fair."

The bill also sets up an appeals process for anyone whose concealed carry permit is denied.

Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, who spoke out against the original bill, doesn't like this new one any better.

"It's the same damn bill, just with a different number on it," Blakely said.

Blakely and others say sheriffs often know of reasons why an applicant should be denied a permit, including suspected criminal activity or mental health issues.

"Show me people who have been denied permits that common sense tells you should be allowed to carry concealed," he said.

Other aspects of Beason's bill deal with where Alabamians could carry concealed or unconcealed weapons. Those also worry law enforcement officials.

Under Beason's bill, carrying a visible, holstered firearm is not a form of disorderly conduct. Gun owners could carry arms on private land that is open to the public.

Blakely said under this bill "bad things will happen."

Beason hopes to have the bill out of committee this week.

Gas pump inspection bill introduced

A bill was introduced last week that state Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan hopes will get his department off the hook for what should be annual inspections of gas station pumps and other measuring devices.

Senate Bill 261 puts the burden of annual inspections on the gas pump owner. Inspections would be done by "registered service agents" who report back to the Department of Agriculture.

McMillan last month said that because of staffing cuts, some gas pumps haven't been inspected by the state in five years.

It was reported last year that of the 90,523 fuel pumps inspected in 2006, 7,851 failed inspection. About half the pumps failing inspection were dispensing too much fuel.

Bedford honored

Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, is the Alabama Association of Health Plans' Legislator of the Year.

The Alabama Association of Health Plans is a trade association that represents the health insurance industry. Bedford received the award based on his ability to consistently make educated voting decisions, according to a press release.

"This award was presented to me, not based on a voting record, but my commitment to educating myself on legislation and voting what is best for my senate district and the state of Alabama as a whole," Bedford, a senator since 1982, said.