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Tuscaloosa Council Lets Guns and Ammo Keep License After Public Hearing

Criminal charges under the city’s Secondhand Dealer Ordinance proceed in municipal court.

Overview

  • The council voted 4–2 to deny revocation, with Councilors Joe Eatmon and Raevan Howard in favor of revoking and Cassius Lanier absent before the vote.
  • Owner Josh Wakefield and employee Rex Piggot were previously arrested on dozens of counts tied to the Secondhand Dealer Ordinance, and those cases remain pending.
  • Investigators testified the shop bought firearms from the same convicted felon once in March and three times in June, then a fifth time after being told of the seller’s status.
  • A key allegation involves a failure to report a stolen gun that was later resold, leading to a separate felony charge for the buyer.
  • At the hearing, city attorneys presented surveillance video and photos as TPD’s chief urged revocation, while the defense played a voicemail, noted an Aug. 8 search, and disputed any 10-day hold violation, as supporters from the public backed the owner.