Changing culture of violence after Birmingham mass shooting ‘starts in hearts and homes’: Britt

Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said Monday it takes more than passing laws to change the culture of violence after the Birmingham mass shooting that left four people dead and 17 others wounded over the weekend.

"As a nation, it is past time to address the root causes of a growing culture of violence," she said in a statement. "Making the change we all want to see starts in hearts and homes."

Alabama's junior senator said her heart breaks for the families and victims of the mass shooting outside the Hush lounge on Magnolia Avenue in Five Points South.

"I know Alabamians across our state join me in prayer for their loved ones and are mourning this tragedy alongside our neighbors. This kind of senseless violence has no place in America," Britt said.

She urged any witnesses to the shooting to call police or Crimestoppers "not matter how small the detail seems."

"Working within the framework of existing laws, we can, and we must hold accountable anyone responsible for this heinous crime," she said.

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After the shooting, Britt said, she spoke to Mayor Randall Woodfin to express her condolences "and reiterate my staunch support for getting every possible federal resource in the hands of local law enforcement to combat violent crime in Birmingham."

Britt said she also spoke with the director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms about the shooting.

The senator said she met with Woodfin and the city council in Washington earlier this month to discuss how to strengthen public safety in the city. She noted she secured $4.2 million in federal funds for Birmingham's Real Time Crime Center, which includes all-seeing live technology nestled in a hub on the fourth floor of Birmingham police headquarters downtown

"There is undoubtedly much more work to do, and I remain committed to being a partner at the federal level to local and state officials working to keep Alabamians safe," she said. "We should also know that government alone can't solve this problem."