By Ricardo Lezama 
On the night of September 21, 2024, a tragic shooting occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals and injuring 18 others. The incident took place in the Five Points South entertainment district, a popular nightlife area in the city of Birmingham. The shooting took place outside Hush, a hookah and cigar lounge on Magnolia Avenue in Five Points South. That is an entertainment district with restaurants and nightlife. Not far is also the University of Alabama campus.
Glock “Switches”
Local authorities are conducting an investigation to identify the perpetrators and establish the motive behind this violent act. Meanwhile, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin expressed grave concern over the incident, hinting that illegal devices potentially known as “switches” may have been used during the shooting. This situation raises alarms about gun violence in the United States, where such mass shootings have tragically become more frequent.
“They don’t care about everyday citizens residents,” Woodfin said. “They don’t care about children, seniors, elders. We got to take those people off the streets. They’re riding around with these Glock switches, and their intent is to inflict massive amounts of casualties and carnage as they can.”
– Mayor Randall Woodfin on Glock Switches via WSTV
Witness accounts describe a chaotic scene filled with desperation as victims found themselves caught in the crossfire of two people in some kind of argument. Eventually, the converted semi-automatic pistol became full auto due to a simple device placed on the Glock. The police are actively searching for the suspects believed to be involved in this horrific event, which has sparked outrage and calls for action regarding gun control and public safety.
As Birmingham recovers from this devastating occurrence, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing issue of gun violence in the nation, reiterating the need for robust discussions about human rights and community safety in the United States.