This is an opinion column
Click here to sign up for the Comeback Town newsletter.
Tragedy strikes cities across the nation.
But when Birmingham faces a crisis, we often internalize it, questioning our future.
This column isn’t about the recent 5 Points shooting, though it serves as a stark reminder.
It’s about how Birmingham views itself compared to other cities.
There’s an average of 1.75 mass shootings in America each day
The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group that tracks shootings and their characteristics in the United States, define a mass shooting “as an incident in which four or more people, excluding the perpetrator(s), are shot in one location at roughly the same time.”
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there’s an average of 1.75 mass shootings per day in America.
In the U.S. there have been 482 mass shootings through September of this year.
Mass shootings are a national problem, not unique to Birmingham.
Birmingham’s response is doom and gloom
Birmingham’s social and traditional media often paint a bleak picture. The message? We’re failing, the future is grim. Even Birmingham advocates like John Archibald of al.com have expressed concern.
Archibald recently wrote a column entitled, Birmingham’s future is in doubt, that concludes with the serious warning, “It is a matter of survival.”
A matter of survival?
Learning from Nashville’s Resilience
In 2023, there was a mass shooting at an elementary school in Nashville. Three children and three adults were killed.
Last month six people were injured in a mass shooting in Nashville on Labor Day.
This month on October 19, just days ago, one person was killed and nine injured in another mass shooting in Nashville.
Yet, Nashville doesn’t seem ready to give up.
Birmingham: Time for an Attitude Shift
In 2005, I attended a trip sponsored by the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, to hear from their community leaders about Nashville’s successes.
The then Mayor of Birmingham, made a statement that has resonated with me, “The only difference between Birmingham and Nashville, is our attitude.”
Both cities face increased violence.
The difference lies in the response. Nashville tackles issues while Birmingham succumbs to fear.
Let’s acknowledge the rise in gun violence. But dwelling on negativity discourages progress.
Birmingham needs a more hopeful narrative.
Birmingham’s Future: Brighter Days Ahead
This may sound counter intuitive, but our best days are yet to come.
Birmingham has always been a rough and tumble town, but we’ve always made a comeback. We didn’t earn our name, the Magic City, from nothing.
This horrendous mass shooting is a wakeup call both for Birmingham and for those of us who live nearby.
Birmingham Mayor Woodfin and the City Council have worked together to pass a comprehensive plan to make Birmingham safer–a positive step forward.
It’s time we follow the lead of Bucky Wood, a retired Mountain Brook physician, who has called on us to rethink our indifference and take action.
When Boston was struck by the Marathon bombing, they declared themselves “Boston Strong.”
Let’s follow suit. Here’s to Birmingham Strong!
David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).
Click here to sign up for our newsletter. (Opt out at any time)
Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. [email protected] .
