Republican comments, Birmingham violence: Down in Alabama

Delegates from Alabama

Even before the attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump, delegates from Alabama had started arriving in Milwaukee for this week’s Republican National Convention, reports AL.com’s Greg Garrison.

The plans for one, however, were up in the air after she was struck by a car while in a crosswalk.

Alabama State Sen. April Weaver, a Brierfield Republican, said in a statement that she sustained minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to a hospital.

She wasn’t sure yet whether she’d make the trip. Weaver is a delegate for Trump.

Sounding off on the Trump-rally shooting

Regarding the shooting, which killed an attendee at a Pennsylvania Trump campaign rally, grazed and bloodied the former president, and injured others, Alabama Republicans poured out comments that ranged from calls for unity to calling out language used by some Democrats.

State party chair John Wahl said the media is partly responsible for “relentless demonization and vilification of Donald Trump.”

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth blasted Democrats on several fronts, including a reference to a recent comment from President Joe Biden to “put Trump in a bulls-eye,” something the president maintains that he meant politically.

Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt and Gov. Kay Ivey were among many others sending prayers and best wishes to Trump and those affected by the shooting.

A unique convention

The GOP Convention will go forward, surely affected in some ways by the deadly incident.

Tobias Vogt served 28 years in the U.S. Army and is a delegate from Madison County. “It brings a somber tone, not just about President Trump and the near miss. We had someone killed and (two) wounded. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected.”

More Birmingham violence

Closer to home, gun violence continued Saturday evening in Birmingham, with shootings killing 7 and wounding 10 others, reports AL.com’s Carol Robinson.

Three people, a 28-year-old woman, a 28-year-old man and a 5-year old boy, were shot dead in a car on Birmingham’s east side. A few hours later a drive-by shooting took place at a private party, killing four and injuring 10.

Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond called the seven killings the most tragedy in a day he’s seen during his time with BPD. He said the shootings were targeted, not random.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the Birmingham Police Department or Crime Stoppers. Said Thurmond: “We know 100% there are people who know who is responsible, and what happened. We need that information.”

Saturday night’s homicides put the city at 89 for the year. That’s 15 killings ahead of last year’s homicides through the same date.

On the Calendar

The 91st Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo will be 5 a.m. Friday through 5 p.m. Sunday.

More Alabama News

Quiz Answers

Here are the answers and results to Friday’s Alabama news review quiz:

A bill is making its way through Congress to give protections to an ancient fossilized underwater forest off the Alabama Gulf Coast. What type of trees are associated with the forest?

• Cypress (CORRECT) 94.2%
• Oak 3.2%
• Redwood 1.9%
• Crepe myrtle 0.6%

UAB plans to offer a Master’s degree in the use of artificial intelligence in what field?

• Medicine (CORRECT) 77.9%
• Criminal justice 16.2%
• Banking 3.9%
• Massage therapy 1.9%

Vending machines recently were placed in a couple of Alabama establishments — with more planned — that dispense this product.

• Ammunition (CORRECT) 97.4%
• Gun-cleaning kits 1.9%
• Candy cigarettes 0.6%
• Air pistols 0.0%

Who did Sen. Tommy Tuberville predict will actually be the Democratic nominee to face challenger Donald Trump in the presidential election?

• Kamala Harris (CORRECT) 88.3%
• Hillary Clinton 5.8%
• Robert Kennedy Jr. 4.5%
• Ross Perot Jr. 1.3%

Which Alabama employer had the most open online job ads posted in May?

• UAB Medicine 44.2%
• Walmart (CORRECT) 40.9%
• Huntsville Hospital 11.7%
• Family Dollar 3.2%

Born on This Date

In 1924, former U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Denton of Mobile. He served in the Senate from 1981-86 and passed away in 2014.

In 1957, musician, singer and songwriter Mac MacAnally of Red Bay.

The podcast