Share your thoughts on gun violence in Birmingham

Anyone in Birmingham who wants to weigh in on how to address the city’s gun violence can do so through a survey offered by an independent gun violence commission. 

The commission has been working since October to find ways to reduce Birmingham’s homicide rates. Now, its members are calling on the public to help make the city safer.

Each survey asks community members how safe they feel in their neighborhoods, what types of programs they think the city should prioritize and what they feel is the most significant contributor to violent crime in Birmingham. 

“Birmingham has 99 neighborhoods and 23 communities which are all different,” Arnee Odums, a commission member and co-leader of its community input team, said. “They all deserve to have a voice in what the solutions are for our environment and in our surroundings. We are all in this together.”

Odums said input from the community will give the commission a better idea of what’s already happening in the city, including whether or not neighborhood groups are trying successful strategies on their own. In return, she said community members will get a voice in how the city addresses gun violence. 

“Our voices are so powerful,” Odums said. “And collectively, when we speak at once and we see that we’re all of the same accord, that can bring in some connections. It also helps us identify some partnerships that might be able to take place in the community.”

This is just one of many strategies the commission is using, including analyzing methods other cities across the country have used to successfully reduce gun crime. 

The survey’s deadline is December 23. The commission will submit a report of its findings to Mayor Randall Woodfin in the new year. 

Community members including non-profit leadership, neighborhood association leadership and all Birmingham residents can complete a survey here. 

Church and faith leaders, particularly those interested in youth development and community safety, can fill out a survey here. 

Teachers, parents and guardians working with youth can fill out a survey here. 

Business owners can fill out a survey here.