Among the several Alabama legislators advocating for laws to reduce violence and increase safety is one who knows the cost all too well – Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery.

Ensler, a former Teach for America educator, said he has lost more than 10 former students to gun violence.

During this year’s legislative session, Ensler is advocating for the expansion of a Montgomery conflict resolution program, which is currently being piloted in Birmingham City Schools as the city recovers from a devastating year of record-breaking homicides, along with other violence prevention legislation. Ensler is one of few legislators, alongside Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, who proposed mandatory conflict resolution training for high schoolers and couples hoping to marry, advocating for violence prevention legislation.

“Just knowing how deeply painful it is for people, and it is such a human issue, knowing that we can’t pass a law that’s going to bring back the people that tragically died. It’s not going to stop all of the violence. But if we can save one life. It’s that important, to me and to others, because it’s about saving lives,” Ensler told AL.com.

He said he wants to put an end to the violence by continuing to advocate for in-school conflict resolution programs, mental health resources for youth, gun bills and neighborhood safety grants.

Conflict resolution

From 2012 to 2014, Ensler taught at what is now known as Percy-Julian High School in Montgomery. During his time as an educator, he saw that some students struggled with absenteeism, disciplinary issues and behavioral challenges.

In 2023, the state legislature helped pilot a conflict resolution program in Montgomery Public Schools to address these persistent issues.

From the 2022-23 to 2023-24 school year, out-of-school suspensions decreased by 43%, in-school suspensions decreased by 8% and fights decreased by 27%, according to Ensler.

The program has been successful with attendance and grades improving among students who received the most intensive support.

“For some, what we’ve seen is that their attendance and grades have improved because they’re not as worried about conflict, they’re not struggling with that as much. They’re getting more support, so then they’re able to focus more on their academics,” Ensler told AL.com.

Currently, the program receives $200,000 a year in funding that goes toward hiring additional counselors.

The counselors work with small groups of students to teach them about peer mediation and how to de-escalate conflict amongst themselves. The counselors also conduct home visits to address any issues or concerns the student or their family may have.

“The idea is that we can hopefully expand it not just throughout Montgomery, but to other school districts throughout the state,” Ensler said.

Mental health resources

Ensler wants to address mental health needs through a pilot program in Montgomery Public Schools that gives students and teachers greater access to regular mental health counseling services.

Ensler hopes to secure “a few $100,000 a year for each school district” through the education budget for districts to enroll in a telehealth program where students and teachers can have access to mental health support right from their phones or computers.

“It would help address some of the underlying challenges and needs that students face,” Ensler said.

“It’ll go beyond just gun violence and just be about general mental health support. But of course, for students and teachers that have lost someone they know to gun violence or who are dealing with any sort of conflict, then of course, mental health support can make a big difference in trying to address some of that trauma.”

Ban on machine gun conversion devices

When Ensler first advocated for a bill that would ban machine gun conversion devices at the state level in 2023, he did not have much support from other legislators.

After not coming up for a vote in the Senate last year, SB116, authored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Montgomery, has passed through the Senate and is on its way to the House.

Currently, the federal government prosecutes all cases involving machine gun conversion devices, a process that can be slow and selective. With a state ban, Ensler said local law enforcement can immediately confiscate the device and charge the suspect with possession.

Ensler said he hopes a state ban will make people think twice before acquiring a conversion device.

After multiple mass shootings that left several people dead and even more with lifelong scars, including the Dadeville and the Hush Lounge mass shootings, Ensler said he has garnered more support than in years prior.

“Between now and then, the response has gotten much, much more supportive,” Ensler said. “I think just the overwhelming bipartisan calls from Democratic and Republican mayors, from law enforcement, from community groups, from clergy, from families that have lost loved ones to these devices, it is something that, fortunately, has now transcended partisan lines, and is seen as a public safety matter, and something that can hopefully save some lives.”

Neighborhood safety grants

Ensler said that when he goes to neighborhood meetings in his district, community members ask him if there are available funds for street cameras, speed bumps, stop signs and sidewalks to make the neighborhood safer.

“My understanding now is that there are some funds through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for public safety,” Ensler said.

“Right now, I’m focusing more on just making sure that cities are aware that they can even apply for those. I would love to see if ADECA had grants that cities could apply for that can then go to neighborhood associations.”

He said that as he advocates for violence prevention legislation and programs, he hopes everyone will step in to do their part to stop the violence.

“I know at the legislature that we can’t stop all violence, and it’s not our role to prevent all of it, but we’re there as lawmakers to do what we can. It takes us focusing on a range of aspects that contribute towards violence and conflict. It’s not one bill or one budget item. It’s a lot of different things together,” Ensler said.

“We are part of a big picture in which it takes mentorship, groups, it takes families, it takes clergy. It takes everyone doing their part.”

AL.com Ed-Lab reporter Rebecca Griesbach contributed to this story.