BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin took part in an address with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on gun violence.
On Thursday, Woodfin was on hand at a press conference in Washington, where Biden and Harris addressed gun violence across America. Specifically, they announced a new executive order to improve active shooter drills in schools, as well as deal with the danger of machinegun conversion devices and 3D-printed guns without serial numbers for tracking.
"I believe the right to be safe is a civil right and that the people of America have a right, then, to live, work, worship and learn without fear of violence, including gun violence, and yet, our nation is experiencing an epidemic of gun violence," Harris said.
The Biden administration's remarks come days after a mass shooting in downtown Birmingham that left four dead and 18 injured over the weekend. The shooting happened Saturday night outside the club Hush in Five Points South. Police believe the shooters, whom are believed to have used automatic-converted handguns in the shooting, had targeted several people in a possible "murder-for-hire" plot.
As of Thursday morning, no arrest have been made in the case.
"If you want to talk about reducing crime and violence in America, you have to talk about guns in America," Biden said.
During his speech, Woodfin spoke of his own experience with gun violence, namely the death of his brother, Ralph, in 2012 in a shooting. His nephew, also named Ralph, died in 2017 in a shooting in Tarrant.
"Saving lives should not be partisan. Saving lives should not be Democrat or a Republican thing. Saving lives shouldn’t even be political. Saving lives is the most American thing we can do together," Woodfin said.
In closing out his speech, Woodfin said he was appreciative of efforts to help curb gun violence.
"Today, we work to loosen the grip that gun violence has on our communities," he said.
There have been over 120 homicides in Birmingham so far in 2024, set to eclipse the 135 homicides that were reported in 2023.