On Monday, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed issued a statement over the Saturday night shootout that left two dead and 14 injured, pointing toward what he deemed Alabama's "lax" gun laws.
The shooting happened at the corner of Bibb and Commerce Street at 11:30 p.m. The City of Montgomery hosted and funded the HBCU Classic, which included free beer on Friday and a Ferris wheel downtown. The Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic took place at the Cramton Bowl at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
According to Reed, Alabama's constitutional carry law "has taken critical tools away from police officers."
“Our hearts remain with the victims and families impacted by this senseless act of violence," Reed outlined. "We continue to pray for their recovery and for healing across our community. As I said this weekend, what happened near Bibb and Commerce Streets was reckless and selfish. When people are willing to open fire in a crowded area with no regard for human life, there is no legislation that can stop that kind of evil in the moment. But there are laws that make it harder—or easier—for cities and law enforcement to keep weapons out of the hands of people who should not have them."
"The truth is, Alabama’s gun laws have become so lax that it has taken critical tools away from police officers. Today, anyone can carry a concealed weapon without a license or training," he continued. "That’s a change from just a few years ago, when permits helped keep firearms out of the hands of people with violent backgrounds. Montgomery’s City Council and I attempted to bring a measure of accountability by requiring anyone openly carrying a firearm to show identification upon request. That ordinance would have given officers the ability to verify who was armed in public spaces—especially downtown. But under current state law, enforcing such an ordinance could have cost Montgomery state funding. That is a problem, not a solution. Despite these limitations, our police department continues to perform at a high level. Five MPD officers were within the immediate area when this shooting occurred—one within 50 feet. They responded within seconds, secured the scene, and are now working with state and federal partners to bring every offender to justice."
Reed went on to say the City of Montgomery would work "to confront the culture of easy access to guns and a lack of responsibility among those who carry them."
"Overall crime in Montgomery continues to trend downward because of our officers’ dedication and our community’s commitment to prevention and accountability. We welcome any assistance the state is willing to provide. But real safety requires more than additional troopers or task forces—it requires the courage to confront the culture of easy access to guns and a lack of responsibility among those who carry them. Montgomery is strong, and we will continue leading from the front to make our capital city safer for everyone," he concluded.
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