While many key details surrounding the fatal shooting in Dadeville on Saturday have yet to be released, President Joe Biden and others have wasted no time seizing the moment to push for more gun control.
"This morning, our nation is once again grieving for at least four Americans tragically killed at a teen’s birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama as well as two others killed last night in a crowded public park in Louisville," President Joe Biden said Sunday morning, according to ABC News. “…What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear? When parents have to worry every time their kids walk out the door to school, to the movie theater, or to the park? Guns are the leading killer of children in America, and the numbers are rising — not declining.”
Biden said many Americans “want lawmakers to act on common sense gun safety reforms,” and he called on U.S. Congress to act.
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (R-Birmingham) echoed the president’s sentiments. After hearing the news of the shooting, she tweeted, “My heart is so heavy to hear the news out of Dadeville and Louisville last night. Week after week, we mourn the loss of life from senseless violence, and I ask my colleagues how many more will it take?”
Before the victims or potential perpetrators have even been identified, other commentators from Alabama and across the country reacted in kind, condemning gun violence and calling for “common sense” reforms.
“Something about this shooting has me extra numb - as I’m sure many others,” WSFA political reporter Erin Davis said. “The legislature is in session! Tell YOUR representatives & senators the changes you want to see.”
“At least 4 dead, 20 injured at bloody birthday party for a 16-year old in Dadeville Alabama,” Geraldo Rivera said. “So many guns, so many dead kids. Gun violence #1 cause of death of American teenagers. NRA rules.”
NBC News National Security Analyst Frank Figliuzzi implied Alabama’s recent permitless-carry bill might have contributed to the shooting.
“Mass shooting at a 'sweet 16' birthday party,” he tweeted. “Alabama has 'permit-less carry': More than 20 shot at Dadeville gathering, investigators on scene.”
“The US is averaging 1.5 mass shootings PER DAY. We're failing our families,” U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colorado) tweeted. “I mourn with the families of the children in Dadeville."
“My heart goes out to the loved ones and victims of this needless tragedy and the entire Dadeville community,” U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) said. “Mass shootings happening this frequently cannot simply be our new normal. It’s the firearms. We need commonsense reforms NOW.”
“There were multiple-casualty shootings yesterday in Dadeville, Alabama, and Louisville, Kentucky,” Bill Kristol, editor at large of The Bulwark, said. In 2020, Alabama's homicide rate was 14.2 per 100,000. Kentucky's was 9.5. Yet House Republicans are having their violent crime hearing Monday in New York--where the rate was 4.7.”
“Four people were killed at a birthday party in downtown Dadeville on Saturday night,” Brian Lyman, former state government reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser, said. “A number of other people were injured. Alabama has one of the highest rates of deaths from firearms in the nation.”
“I'm sad that my little girl will not grow up in a world where she's never concerned with being shot at school or church or a birthday party or a shopping mall or a concert or a parade or at pretty much any gathering of people,” Alabama Political Reporter reporter Josh Moon said. “Because half the country chose guns over kids.”
U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-California) daughter, Christine Pelosi, also chimed in: “As #Dadeville families grieve a mass murder at a Sweet 16 party, we mourn with them. Once again a community agonizes — and once again we remember that thoughts and prayers can help, but they cannot replace actions to #EndGunViolence. Think. Pray. Act!”
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com.
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