In 2015, the city council passed an ordinance requiring nightclub owners within Selma’s city limits to install security cameras by Feb. 1 of this year. Less than two weeks after the deadline, that ordinance has already played a part in helping the Selma Police Department in solving a case.

On Sunday night, Joseph Mack was shot outside the Grown and Sexy Club on Washington Street. As of Monday, Mack’s condition was stable, according to the Selma Police Department. His shooter is still on the loose.

Thanks to the security cameras, video surveillance of the shooting is available, giving investigators a lead to follow while researching the incident. We’re glad to see the ordinance is already making a difference and hope to see the suspect brought to justice.

However, that solves only part of the problem.

It’s becoming clearer with every new shooting that Selma has a problem around its nightclubs. Sunday’s shooting was the third outside of a nightclub in the last calendar year.

Last March, Taffine Berry and Tra Berry were shot outside a lounge located on the 1400 block of Marie Foster Street. Both victims were transported to a Montgomery Hospital. Taffine later died from her injuries. Police believe they were just innocent bystanders. No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.

A few weeks later, 20-year-old Kendrick Latrell Webster and 22-year-old Alphonsia Lewis were arrested in connection with an Easter weekend shooting outside the Grown and Sexy Club.

Two women were shot, one inside the club and one outside, after Webster and Lewis allegedly opened fire after arguing with another man. Both were arrested over the summer and charged with attempted murder and various other offenses.

Just a few days after that arrest, two men were arrested for trying to rob nightclub patrons on Race Street at gunpoint. One of those two suspects was found a few blocks away with a gunshot wound to his leg. It was unclear at the time if the bullet came from the would-be robbers or someone else in the club.

In July, an 18-year-old was shot in the groin in a parking lot across from a nightclub on Franklin Street. Then, in November shots were fired near a nightclub at the intersection of Alabama Avenue and Washington Street. Police responded to the scene and exchanged gunfire with a suspect who was shooting into a crowd. One man was shot in the leg.

If Selma ever hopes to have a successful entertainment district, the city will have to find a way to fix this ongoing problem. Even if Selma had the best nightclubs in the world, it wouldn’t mean much unless citizens feel safe.

Given all of the shootings over the last year, it’s hard to make an argument that they should feel that way.