BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Birmingham City Council members, pastors, and residents recognized June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month and urged the public to take part in Wear Orange Weekend to honor people killed by gun violence and promote nonviolence.
Councilor LaTonya Tate, who chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee, said the city has recorded 17 homicides so far this year. Tate said Birmingham is seeing some of its lowest homicide numbers in years as the city expands prevention efforts.
Tate said Birmingham has invested in community violence interrupters and hospital-linked programs designed to step in after shootings and prevent retaliation. She said the city has expanded that work from trauma units into emergency rooms…