Birmingham Mayor’s Blame Misses the Target Following Mass Shooting

Within the aftermath of a devastating mass capturing in Birmingham that left 4 lifeless and 17 injured, Mayor Randall Woodfin has shifted the dialog from gang violence and felony disregard for human life to the rising challenge of unlawful firearm modifications and what he sees as insufficient gun legal guidelines in his state. Throughout a press convention, Woodfin expressed deep frustration, figuring out Glock switches and lax state gun rules as key contributors to the continuing violence within the metropolis.

Glock switches, gadgets that may convert semi-automatic firearms into absolutely computerized weapons able to firing a number of rounds in seconds, have turn into a big downside in Birmingham, Woodfin mentioned.

“Glock switches are the primary public security challenge in our metropolis and state,” he said, underscoring the hazard posed by these unlawful modifications, whereas completely glossing over the actions and habits of the savages who’re utilizing them to wreak havoc on harmless victims. Glock switches are already prohibited below federal legislation, which has solely apparently stopped the legislation abiding, not the gangbangers who like to make use of them. There is no such thing as a equal state legislation in Alabama, leaving native authorities hamstrung of their efforts to fight the inflow of those gadgets, he mentioned. The mayor ought to be reminded that homicide, assault with a lethal weapon, unlawful discharge of a weapon in metropolis limits, unlawful use of a firearm, speaking threats and unlawful possession of firearms by harmful felons are all already in opposition to the legislation and are on the disposal of native legislation enforcement of their unending and much-appreciated battle in opposition to crime.

“Each mayor, police chief, sheriff and district lawyer I do know desires Glock switches outlawed,” Woodfin added, emphasizing that the rapid-fire capabilities these switches allow don’t have any place “on our home streets.” Of that, Woodfin is appropriate. On a spread, positive, however “on the road,” no. Once more, their possession is already banned by federal legislation. Together with all the different legal guidelines already said, whereas a state ban in opposition to the gadgets would possibly make good headlines, it’s going to do little to resolve the basis causes of the issue that’s costing Birmingham residents and residents in different crime-infested cities their lives. That’s until the mayor desires to advocate an identical technique to New York Metropolis’s, controversial, however efficient, former coverage of “Cease and Frisk.” With out that, there can be no method to implement a legislation in opposition to switches previous to a criminal offense being dedicated and discovering it put in on a firearm after the very fact. Additionally it is apparent if life in jail or perhaps a doable loss of life penalty isn’t deterrent sufficient for somebody bent on killing one other human being, the additional years of incarceration for utilizing an unlawful machine gained’t do a lot to stop the crimes both.

The legal guidelines on the books have to be enforced and violent criminals have to be locked up and put away from civil society. Merely making new legal guidelines in an space the place quite a few legal guidelines are already in place, gained’t make a distinction.

The mayor’s emotional feedback got here simply hours after the Saturday night time capturing within the 5 Factors South space, a well-liked downtown leisure district. The assault, which police imagine was a focused hit, noticed a number of gunmen open hearth on a crowd, leaving a path of casualties. Investigators recovered over 100 shell casings from the scene and confirmed that the weapons used have been geared up with unlawful Glock switches. Native media haven’t reported the restoration of any of the firearms used within the assault so it’s not clear how they’ve confirmed Glock switches have been used.

Regardless of the size of the tragedy, Woodfin insisted that the violence plaguing Birmingham is a “solvable downside.” Nevertheless, he argued that legislation enforcement efforts are severely hampered by the dearth of ample funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the absence of state legal guidelines regulating gadgets like Glock switches.

“Our arms are behind our backs,” Woodfin mentioned. “After which a blindfold is put over our eyes, and we’re informed we’re accountable.”

Woodfin additionally pointed to the broader challenge of Alabama’s permissive gun legal guidelines, stating that folks don’t want permits to hold firearms, additional complicating efforts to take away harmful people and unlawful modifications from the streets.

“We’re able to go and get each shooter on this metropolis,” he mentioned, including that with out stronger gun legal guidelines and assist from federal businesses, native legislation enforcement is struggling to maintain up with the rising tide of gun violence. Mr. Mayor, if you’re certainly so able to “get each shooter within the metropolis,” then get after it. Gun legal guidelines usually are not an excuse.