Bessemer Police Chief Mike Wood addressed the media Tuesday following deadly shootings over the weekend. Wood said the legislature's move to allow people to carry guns without a concealed carry permit has impacted efforts to reduce crime.
"We have been hindered by legislation that has been passed in the state of Alabama, taking away pistol permits," Wood said.
The Alabama legislature passed a bill removing the requirement of a concealed carry permit in 2022. The law went into effect in January 2023.
"People are going to say, 'You have the right to carry guns," Wood said. "I agree. You have the right to carry a gun, but I also agree you need a background check. You don't need to be an 18-year-old child that doesn't know enough about life to be out here carrying guns."
"You see what happens," he added. "We're dealing with conflict with guns, and that's not acceptable."
Alabama did not and does not require a permit for open carry.
In one of the shootings that left three dead in Bessemer over the weekend, a man out on bond for the shooting death of a child is believed to be the shooter. Raukeem Cunningham is now in jail in Jefferson County, facing capital murder.
"I wish we could be everywhere," Wood said Tuesday. "I wish we could have stopped all this nonsense, but we didn't. We couldn't. But going forward, we're not going to tolerate it."
Wood said while there is a culture problem leading to gun violence, concealed carry permits were a way for police to arrest people before crimes were committed.
"They might get a gun, but if they're on their way to commit a shooting and we stop them and they don't have a permit for that gun, guess what? We can take him to jail," he said. "It's a misdemeanor. Correct. But it just stopped a felony from occurring, or a robbery, or something else."
Lawmakers passed a law in 2021 to create a "prohibited persons" database to allow law enforcement to identify those prohibited from possessing firearms.
Still, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said he would like to see an amendment to Alabama's gun laws to require permits for anyone under 21 to carry a firearm. Wood mentioned Burch's idea but said he would like to see background checks for firearm purchases and a cultural change.
"That's all fine and good, but you know what? There's people that can get a gun and ride around with it," Wood said of Burch's proposal. "We have no idea if you have a history. Alright, that's your God-given right. I'm not going to look in everybody's background."
"I can't know everyone in this room; If they have the ability to carry a weapon," he continued. "If you get a good background check, then we know you shouldn't have a weapon and that would cut out some of this mess. It ain't going to stop it."
"This is a cultural thing right now with the younger people," Wood added. "It is just something that they believe that's the way to solve problems. And that's not the answer. You've got to talk it out, not shoot it out."
The police chief urged parents to check their children's rooms and backpacks for guns. He asked community members to do their part in discouraging the use of firearms.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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