An investigation is underway in Birmingham after a man fatally shot his father during a domestic dispute in the Central Park neighborhood Wednesday night.
During a recent interview with the Birmingham Times, Gunn said he believes the violence has taken a turn for the worse.
“It seems like more people are concentrating on violence and hate rather than trying to love each other and respect each other,” he said. “Access to guns seems to be easier to come by. … It’s really sad.”
Johnny Gunn, president of the Belview Heights Neighborhood Association. (Erica Wright, The Birmingham Times)
Gunn cited several reasons for what he believes is fueling the increase in violence.
“I think it’s mostly young people doing all of this killing and shooting [because there is a] lack of opportunities. Also, many are holding grudges, getting upset with others, and believing the only way to [deal with it] is to pick up a gun and start shooting.”
“I’m outraged!” “It’s really sad!” “It’s a tragedy!”
Those are just some of the thoughts expressed by Birmingham neighborhood leaders and residents who recently spoke to the Birmingham Times about and offered suggestions to help curb the recent gun violence that has plagued the city.
On Wednesday, a victim was found dead at an east Birmingham apartment complex, the city’s 39th homicide of 2021; three of those homicides were ruled justifiable as self-defense by investigators or prosecutors. Even though the city has recorded one less homicide through May 12 of this year than at this time in 2020 the deaths are adding up and residents are not pleased.
My Take: UDO by the numbers
By Nathan Bocks
After 2.5 years, dozens of meetings, hours of public debate, hundreds of public comments, the nine members of the planning commission, elected by the people of Holland or appointed by multiple mayors, voted 9-0 to recommend the consolidation and modernization of Holland’s zoning and planning ordinances dating back to the 1940s.
I want to thank the planning commissioners, city staff and the consultants who have been working diligently to create this proposal.
I want to thank the members of the public who made their voices heard. This has been a great example of citizen engagement.