Treat the problem of metro crime before priority – The Troy Messenger

You would have to live under a rock so as not to know that two of the metropolises of our state have a serious problem with violent crimes. Montgomery and Birmingham have become criminal war zones that are similar to the countries of the Third World, as they are led by drug cartels.

The rampant, open violence and cavalier murders in Montgomery and Birmingham jumped so high in 2024 that people who were still alive there were afraid to be shot out of their houses out of fear. Even their houses were not safe places, many small children were murdered by stray balls in Birmingham as they slept in their beds.

Montgomery had become so bad that legislators and still afraid were in the Capitol. Most judges of the Supreme Court only come to the capital when they are necessary. The city of Pike Road and the city of Auburn has become the residences of many people who have to come to Montgomery to work.

If Brac has come to decide whether the Maxwell/Gunter Complex/War College in Montgomery is to be maintained, it will be difficult for the US Department of Defense to keep its basis in a war zone. The only argument that you can put on is that a foreign country sends its officers for training as a War College, you will receive a real simulated war experience. Their likelihood of being shot during the stay in Montgomery is greater than a real war at home. If you could survive for a year in Montgomery, you could survive a year in every war. These young officers will still not be able to bring their women or children to Montgomery.

Inner City Birmingham and Montgomery will probably never be growth centers for our state, but something has to be done because the unbridled crimes and the rampant mudrates influence the image of the entire state.

Therefore, our republican legislative of the super majority has made the problem of Birmingham and the Montgomery problem problem. You have resulted in a package with bills and made it the most important topic of the session. Governor Kay Ivey campaigned for this anti-crime in her state of the state speech towards the legislators at the beginning of the session. Legislation is common sense and should make a difference.

In June 2024, Montgomery leader of her crime problem seriously and gave a special unit for the suppression of Metro crime. This unit was extremely successful. It was led by Alea Director Hal Taylor and Montgomery Sheriff Derek Cunningham. These two brilliant, first -class law enforcement leaders brought the bull in Montgomery to the horns.

In the past 10 months, this special unit listed by Alea has 508 arrest warrants, 202 arrests, confiscated 157 firearms and 100 machine gun conversion devices, regained 35 stolen vehicles, initiated 56 vehicle companies and performed 44 drug members – including a fentine lifting, to kill over 5,000 people.

When Reed Ingram (R -Pike Road) saw the success of this unit, Hopefully Birmingham said goodbye to this income and give responsibility for Taylor's elite unit to help them. In the adoption of this special unit Alea middle, Rep. Ingram said: “This unit was incredibly effective in Alabama's capital and undoubtedly led to a decrease in violent crimes in the entire river region. The conclusion that the best way to protect the community is to have a strong presence of law in areas in which the violent crime in the Crime occurs.

The Senator of the state will lead to Barfoot (R-Pike Road) important laws, the Glock Switch weapons possession of a crime of class C after Alabama Law.

One of the most important legislative laws of this significant anti-crime package was the Back the Blue Protection Act, which was sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville), the former chief of police from Huntsville. Under this new protection, a law enforcement officer would be shielded from a lawsuit, unless he or she acted ruthlessly without justification without prosecution, or she violated the clearly defined rights of a person.

We'll see you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama's leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 newspapers in Alabama. It served for 16 years in the state legislature. Steve can be reached at steve@steveflowers.us.