HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Alabama State Conference NAACP President Benard Simelton believes part of the problem with mass shootings- is easier access to types of guns.
"It has to be related to how people have access to weapons, and I'm not talking about just a handgun, but I'm talking about military-style assault weapons.", says Simelton.
He says parents are responsible, but it's also up to our elected leaders to make these changes.
"We have to depend on our legislators, our city and county leaders to make it more difficult for people to obtain these types of weapons."
Simelton points to the actions of elected leaders, such as governor kay Ivey.
"I'm very disturbed by an ad where the governor reaches in her purse, a campaign ad where the governor reaches in her purse. She pulls out her lip stick. She pulls out some other material items in her purse, and then she pulls out a weapon. what is that saying to that two-year-old, that five-year-old that's seeing that?"
While Simelton says elected leaders are to be held accountable, we asked about the passage of permit less concealed carry of a pistol law in Alabama, set to go into effect next year.
"It gives the mindset that you know I can carry a weapon with me anytime."
Simelton also believes the new law will increase gun violence.
"Give credence to that violence type of activity that I'm going to carry mine. you're going to carry yours. You know I have a .38. Well I have a nine millimeter, and well you get a nine millimeter, I'm gonna get a assault rifle, you know'. Where does it end?"
Racism: The root of it all
We've learned from authorities that racism is what pushed the suspected shooter in buffalo to kill ten people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.
Alabama NAACP President Benard Simelton says education on matters of race are needed in schools.
"I'm not saying critical race theory had anything to do with this shooting, but we have to teach our children the truth of what is happening and what has happened in the past to bring us to this point.", said Simelton.
We asked him about other conversations that come up when tragedies like the buffalo shooting happen.
Some of those conversations include addressing the issue of 'black on black' crimes.
"We must do more and in communities, and again in our faith, in our churches, in our community organizations to address the 'black on black' crime, but let's not confuse the 'black on black' crime with the racial-motivated black crime. I want to make sure we separate the two because they are different."
Simelton says all people are accountable when a crime is committed, but there's a different level of intention.
"I'm not justifying in any way, anyone killing another person, a 'black on black' crime, white on white, or Hispanic on Hispanic crime, they're all crimes, but when you kill someone because they are a certain color, a certain ethnicity, then that takes it to a different level of criminal activity."