At Least Four People Shot and Killed and At Least Ten Wounded in Mass Shooting at Birmingham Event Center; Alabama Chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Respond

BIRMINGHAM, AL. - The Alabama chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety's grassroots network, released the following statements in response to at least four people shot and killed and at least ten wounded Saturday night in a shooting at a party in Birmingham, Alabama. With reports still emerging, the Birmingham Police estimate at least one person fired shots from outside into the event center. This comes as another shooting broke out in Birmingham earlier that day, killing three individuals, including a 5-year-old, as well as shots breaking out at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, wounding the former president and killing one individual.

"Another weekend in America ends in a mass shooting. It's utterly devastating that these tragedies are allowed to continue where lives are taken and countless others are changed forever when we know exactly how to prevent this violence," said Makayla Jordan, a volunteer leader with University of Alabama Students Demand Action chapter. "Alabama lawmakers need to get their act together. We have some of the weakest gun safety laws in the country and we are paying that price with our lives. How many more of us have to die before politicians do what they were elected to do and take action to keep us safe?"

"There's absolutely no reason why a night out should devolve into gun violence. We're seeing the gun lobby's 'guns everywhere' agenda play out in real-time on Alabama streets, and we will continue to hold lawmakers accountable for the role they've played in enabling this violence," saidEllen Melson, a volunteer with the Alabama chapter of Moms Demand Action. "Our leaders have only loosened our gun laws, creating a world where anyone armed with deadly weapons can shoot Alabamians without a thought. We cannot bear the burdens of their inactions any longer."

This tragedy comes as last month Alabama lawmakers adjourned their 2024 legislative session last week. HB36, common sense gun reform legislation that would ban the possession of pistols outfitted with devices that convert them into machine guns, passed the House Floor and Senate Judiciary Committee but was not taken up for a vote on the Senate Floor before Sine Die.

In an average year, 1,175 people die and 2,855 are wounded by guns in Alabama. Alabama has the 4th-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Alabama. Alabama has the 4th-highest societal cost of gun violence in the US at $3,134 per resident each year. Gun deaths and injuries cost Alabama $15.4 billion, of which $421.4 million is paid by taxpayers.

To speak with an Alabama Moms Demand Action volunteer, please do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected].