Statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors on Birmingham Shooting

Washington, DC-Below is a statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther on last night's shooting in Birmingham's Five Points South.

"Once again, we wake up to a mass shooting, this one in an entertainment district in Birmingham that has left at least four people dead and 18 injured. America's mayors stand with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin at this tragic time. We send our condolences to the victims, their families, and the entire Birmingham community.

"People should be able to enjoy a Saturday night out in safety. This shouldn't be happening in our country, and we shouldn't have to live in fear of where this senseless violence will happen next. While we are seeing a reduction in homicides and other violent crimes in cities across the country, mass shootings continue, due in part to the easy access to guns in America.

"Mayors are doing everything they can to prevent and reduce gun violence in their cities, but we cannot do it alone. There have been more than 400 mass shootings this year. The evidence is clear; we know what we need to do. Congress must put partisan differences aside and act now to pass and send to the President common sense gun safety legislation that includes universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons, large capacity magazines and bump stocks. It's time to do what's right for our people and our nation."

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