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State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, said Monday that Birmingham is “one step away from having to call in the National Guard.”
Givan made the comment to WBRC 6 Monday in response to the Five Points South shooting that left 4 dead and 24 injured, leading Mayor Randall Woodfin and others to push for a ban on a device commonly known as a “glock switch” that can turn a handgun into an automatic weapon.
During a press conference Tuesday, Woodfin said Givan’s statement about the National Guard was “just wack.”
Gina Maiola, a spokesperson for Gov. Kay Ivey clarified on X Tuesday that Ivey has no plans to deploy the National Guard.
“… she DOES stand willing and ready to work with Birmingham to combat their ongoing crime just like we have been able to do through the Metro Area Crimes Suppression Unit here in our Capital City,” Maiola added.
The shooting has stirred debate over the appropriate response, with Democrat leaders calling for other gun control measures in addition to the bipartisan bill to ban glock switches.
Some Republicans have pushed back against the idea of legislation, and Givan said the real problem is a shortage of law enforcement in the city.
“We could pass 500 gun laws today,” Givan said. “Birmingham’s problems right now lies because our law enforcement is down nearly 400 officers. There are not enough officers to police the city of Birmingham.”
Woodfin responded by posting an image on X thanking many other elected officials but singling out Givan as someone the city is not thankful for.
