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No one has a definitive solution, yet everyone seems to have ideas. The question at hand? How can we curb—or better yet, stop—gun violence in Birmingham?

I say "we" intentionally because there's no single person, organization, or strategy that can tackle the senseless violence plaguing our city and breaking countless hearts and families.

We all have a role to play, however small. Maybe it's as simple as encouraging a young child, instilling confidence in them, and showing them that hope is real. That's something we can all do.

Of course, there are those with direct responsibility for addressing gun violence, with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin at the helm. Numerous programs and initiatives are in place, many of which we've highlighted in our Beyond Violence series. These efforts are likely making a difference, though it's difficult to measure success in preventing something that didn't happen. We can only measure the tragedies that did.

We know this much: Every day, our news feeds are filled with reports of senseless deaths—over petty disputes, dice games, drugs, and bruised egos. The cycle seems endless, and the question remains: What can be done that isn’t already being done? What new approaches should be immediately implemented?

Imagine this: If you were the ruler of Birmingham for a day, with the power to enact almost anything by decree, what would you do to end gun violence?

I posed this question to several people recently—none of them elected officials—hoping for a few thoughtful responses. What I got was a flood of ideas.

Nearly everyone had a suggestion for tackling gun violence, and some had multiple ideas.

One responder, after detailing a six-point plan, remarked, "Obviously, I’ve been thinking about this already." (To encourage honest feedback, all respondents were promised anonymity—a rarity at AL.com, but necessary in this case.)

The proposed solutions generally fell into several categories: police/law enforcement, youth/parenting, jobs/economic development, gun control, infrastructure/neighborhood improvements, and faith. Some of these solutions are already in practice, but here’s a snapshot of what a few "rulers" would decree:

Police/Law Enforcement: Open annex stations in high-crime neighborhoods (after resolving the police shortage); recruit traveling officers from other cities, similar to how travel nurses work; increase police pay and benefits, including housing and education incentives to attract officers to live in Birmingham, making the force competitive with the best in the nation; implement interstate checkpoints on major routes known for drug and human trafficking; improve police training with a focus on social-emotional skills, cultural awareness, and gender relations; and enhance community engagement to build trust between law enforcement and the public, leading to more effective crime prevention and investigations.

Youth/Parenting: Revive the Partners in Neighborhood Growth (PING) program, which provided recreational activities for youth from low-income families, especially in public housing communities (“Since it dissolved in 2011, there haven’t been places where kids can gather and learn to love”); increase funding for The Birmingham Promise and Maranathan Academy, the only private school in the city that accepts students expelled for weapon-related or violent offenses; require military enlistment for high school graduates not pursuing college, trade school, or employment; create "safe routes" to and from school; implement curfews for minors; hold parents accountable for their children's actions; and promote positive role models.

One respondent put it this way: “TALK to these PARENTS! One root of the problem… it starts at home. Some parents aren’t raising today’s kids like I was raised. They’re raising each other. Parents and their villages need to be more active and responsible.”

Another added: “Parents must take responsibility for their children. Many crimes are committed by young adults who were wayward long before they were charged with a crime. Sometimes we demonize young adults who commit crimes, but a wise person once told me, ‘It’s hard to be an angel when you were raised by the devil.’”

Jobs/Economic Development: Boost job training programs and connect them with local businesses looking to hire.

Guns: “I’d issue a decree to remove all weapons from the streets and enforce strict penalties for violators.” (This person lives in Alabama); impose a heavy tax on gun ammunition sales.

Infrastructure/Neighborhoods: Saturate the city with Flock cameras at every corner to make solving crimes less reliant on witnesses; ensure that streets, parks, and public spaces in high-crime areas are well-lit; upgrade sidewalks and streets in these neighborhoods; and bulldoze all dilapidated, unoccupied properties. “Remove them as places where crime can occur or be hidden,” one respondent said.