ALABASTER, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama gun rights supporter who took a loaded pistol to the polls got to vote, but only after putting the weapon in his pickup truck.

John David Murphy wore his holstered 9 mm handgun and two ammunition magazines into First United Methodist Church of Alabaster when he went to vote in the Republican primary Tuesday.

The church, like other precincts, had a sign in the door saying firearms are prohibited. But Murphy argued with a poll worker that his constitutional right to openly carry a weapon trumps a state law allowing guns in public places unless a sign is posted.

Poll workers called a deputy, who made Murphy put the gun in his truck outside before voting.

Murphy says he’s going to complain to county leaders.

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