Families, Advocates Share What Could Stop Gun Violence in Alabama

By Alaina Bookman | abookman@al.com University of Alabama student Makayla Jordan, is now a Member Of Students Demand Action. (Provided) Makayla Jordan, 20, a University of Alabama student, said she has feared dying since the in-school shooting death of Courtlin Arrington, a Huffman High School student. “I walk into the university student center every day wondering where the closest exit is in case an active shooter walks in. I’m sitting in the library right now and I’m listening for gunshots. That’s not something I should be focused on,” Jordan said. Gun violence recently became the leading cause of death among youth in the state. As the anniversary of the Dadeville shooting that killed four people and injured 32 approaches on April 15, Alabama advocates and state representatives reflect on what they say should be done to stop homicides, suicides and accidental shootings. “It really hit home when I saw that leaders were not taking action against gun violence in Alabama and in Birmingham, where we see this so often,” said Jordan, now a member of Students Demand Action. “So I started my group and started mobilizing my peers against gun violence and making sure that people were aware of the...