Is it evidence? How did they come into possession of it?
Section 15-5-16
Restoration of taken property to defendant; property to be forwarded to court if not restored.
(a) If it appears that the property taken is not the same as that described in a search warrant or that there is no probable cause for believing the existence of the ground on which the warrant issued, the judge or the magistrate must direct it to be restored to the person from whom it was taken.
(b) If the property is not directed to be restored under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the judge or the magistrate shall annex together the search warrant, the return and the depositions and return them to the court having power to inquire into the offense in respect to which the search warrant was issued.
(Code 1852, §§841, 842; Code 1867, §§4392, 4393; Code 1876, §§4021, 4022; Code 1886, §§4742, 4743; Code 1896, §§5499, 5500; Code 1907, §§7772, 7773; Code 1923, §§5486, 5487; Code 1940, T. 15, §§115, 116.)
http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/CodeofAlabama/1975/15-5-16.htm
Section 15-5-17
Searching of person charged with felony for weapon or evidence in judge's or magistrate's presence.
When a person charged with a felony is supposed by the judge or the magistrate before whom he is brought to have upon his person a dangerous weapon or anything which may be used as evidence of the commission of the offense, the judge or the magistrate may direct him to be searched in his presence and such weapon or other thing to be retained, subject to the order of the court in which the defendant may be tried.
(Code 1852, §844; Code 1867, §4395; Code 1876, §4024; Code 1886, §4745; Code 1896, §5502; Code 1907, §7775; Code 1923, §5489; Code 1940, T. 15, §118.)
http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/CodeofAlabama/1975/15-5-17.htm
Section 15-5-31
Search for dangerous weapon; procedure if weapon or other thing found.
When a sheriff or other officer acting as sheriff, his deputy or any constable, acting within their respective counties, any marshal, deputy marshal or policeman of any incorporated city or town within the limits of the county or any highway patrolman or state trooper has stopped a person for questioning pursuant to this article and reasonably suspects that he is in danger of life or limb, he may search such person for a dangerous weapon. If such officer finds such a weapon or any other thing,
the possession of which may constitute a crime, he may take and keep it until the completion of the questioning,
at which time he shall either return it, if lawfully possessed, or arrest such person.
(Acts 1966, Ex. Sess., No. 157, p. 183, §2.)
http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/CodeofAlabama/1975/15-5-31.htm
Section 31-9-8
Emergency powers of Governor.
(a) The provisions of this section shall be operative only during the existence of a state of emergency, referred to hereinafter as one of the states of emergency defined in Section 31-9-3. The existence of a state of emergency may be proclaimed by the Governor as provided in this subsection or by joint resolution of the Legislature if the Governor in the proclamation or the Legislature in the resolution finds that an attack upon the United States has occurred or is anticipated in the immediate future, or that a natural disaster of major proportions or a public health emergency has occurred or is reasonably anticipated in the immediate future within this state and that the safety and welfare of the inhabitants of this state require an invocation of the provisions of this section. The emergency, whether proclaimed by the Governor or by the Legislature, shall terminate 60 days after the date on which it was proclaimed unless the Governor extends the emergency by proclamation or the Legislature extends the emergency by a joint resolution. Upon proclamation by the Governor of a state of emergency, the Governor may call the Legislature into special session. Additionally, the Lieutenant Governor or the Speaker of the House may request in writing that the Governor call the Legislature into special session. During the period that the proclaimed emergency exists or continues, the Governor shall have and may exercise the following additional emergency powers:
...
(2) A law enforcement officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of the officer's official duties may disarm an individual if the officer reasonably believes that it is immediately necessary for the protection of the officer or another individual. The officer shall return the firearm to the individual before discharging that individual unless the officer arrests that individual for engaging in criminal activity or seizes the firearm as evidence pursuant to an investigation for the commission of a crime or, at the discretion of the officer, the individual poses a threat to himself or herself or to others.
(Acts 1955, No. 47, p. 267, §8; Act 2006-522, p. 1210, §1; Act 2009-572, p. 1679, §1.)
http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/codeofalabama/1975/31-9-8.htm