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In Birmingham, a mother mourns her son after another night of gun violence. In Montgomery, police tape flutters in the wind as families fear venturing out after dark. These are the scenes of a crisis, yet Alabama’s leaders cling to the same tired refrain: “tough on crime.” After decades of harsher penalties and swelling prison populations, it’s clear this approach has failed. The question is no longer whether the “tough on crime” playbook works—it doesn’t. The real question is whether our leaders have the courage to embrace solutions that do.
Crime doesn’t flourish in a vacuum. It takes root in broken systems—poverty, poor education, mental illness, addiction, and community neglect. Yet Alabama’s lawmakers continue to focus on symptoms while ignoring the disease. They pass harsher sentences to generate headlines but refuse to invest in the opportunities that prevent crime in the first place. A teenager with access to quality schools, job training, and after-school programs is far less likely to pick up a gun. This isn’t revolutionary thinking—it’s common sense. And yet, common sense has long been absent from the state’s crime-fighting strategies.
Policing remains the primary tool Alabama relies on for public safety, but it doesn’t have to be this way. True safety comes from trust, not fear. Community policing, where officers are embedded in neighborhoods and work alongside residents, has proven effective in cities across the country. It’s time Alabama took note. But trust isn’t built through policing alone. It requires addressing Alabama’s gun problem. With some of the weakest gun laws in the nation, our streets are flooded with illegal firearms. Responsible gun ownership is a right, but that right must come with responsibilities—stronger background checks, closing loopholes, and cracking down on trafficking.
Alabama’s justice system has become a warehouse for people who need help, not handcuffs. Our jails and prisons are filled with those suffering from untreated mental illness and addiction, perpetuating cycles of crime and despair. The solution is simple: expand access to mental health care. Fund treatment facilities, create crisis intervention teams, and ensure that no one is left to suffer alone. It’s not just the compassionate thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do.
We don’t need to reinvent the wheel to tackle violent crime. Programs like Cure Violence have dramatically reduced shootings in cities like Chicago by treating violence as a contagious disease—interrupting conflicts before they escalate. Violence interrupters, often community members with lived experience, mediate disputes and prevent retaliation. In a few Alabama cities, pilot programs for community policing show promise but will need more funding to succeed. Imagine what could be achieved if we prioritized such initiatives statewide. Some will say these approaches are “soft on crime.” But what’s soft is clinging to failed policies that don’t make anyone safer. Real courage lies in confronting the hard truths and addressing crime at its roots.
Continuing down the same failed path isn’t just ineffective—it’s immoral. Alabama’s so-called solutions disproportionately target the state’s most vulnerable communities, especially low-income and Black residents. This isn’t justice. It’s a systemic failure that perpetuates inequality and leaves communities trapped in cycles of violence.
True public safety isn’t built on fear—it’s built on justice, opportunity, and hope. Alabama’s lawmakers face a choice: keep throwing Band-Aids on a broken system or confront the deeper issues with bold, evidence-based solutions. Our communities deserve better. Alabama deserves better. And it’s time we demand better. Call your legislators. Support local programs that work. Advocate for real change. Together, we can build a safer, stronger Alabama. The solutions are within reach. The only thing missing is the political will to act. Let’s not wait for another tragedy to force our hand. The time to act is now.
