Mayor Reed Calls for an End to Gun Violence

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Mayor Steven L. Reed has called for an end to gun violence after learning about the shooting deaths of several Montgomery residents and rapper Kirshnik Khari Ball, also known as Takeoff from Migos.  On November 1, 2022, Mayor Reed posted to his Instagram to express his sentiments about what is transpiring not only in the city of Montgomery, but throughout the country. Mayor Reed expressed, “Last night, a 25-year-old Black man was killed here in our city, and this is the second in the last three days. That comes on top of waking up again this morning and seeing that one of my favorite artists and groups out of Atlanta lost a great member Takeoff much too soon.”

“Last night, a 25-year-old Black man was killed here in our city, and this is the second in the last three days”

Currently, Montgomery’s crime index rating indicates that it is “1.5 times higher than the U.S. average.” However, this crime index analysis also indicates that the number of homicides has decreased recently, “The number of homicides stood at 29 – a decrease of 9 compared to 2017.” The Montgomery Police Department has provided gun safety information to lower the risk of violent crimes. The statement also discusses that there is a significant number of violent crimes regarding children by relaying that, “The risks to our children of unsafe firearm storage practices are significant. Without any exaggeration, the way a gun is stored can be a matter of life and death for our children. Tragedies occur daily involving unlocked firearms easily accessible to young people, either at their own homes or the home of a relative or neighbor.”

Mayor Reed intends to solve these issues, as expressed in his initiatives, which say that “A native of Montgomery, Mayor Reed is committed to realizing his vision of a more equitable, progressive, and compassionate city. To that end, he is advancing an agenda that addresses the community’s most pressing issues and puts Montgomery on track to become a leader in the New South.”

For more information, please contact the Mayor’s Office at (334) 625-2000.