Asian American groups push for federal action on guns following California mass shootings

Asian American and Pacific Islander group advocates referred to as on politicians to reform gun legal guidelines following two mass shootings in AAPI communities in California. 

Members of the AAPI Towards Gun Violence steering committee held a press convention Wednesday to induce motion and schooling on how gun violence within the U.S. impacts Asian Individuals.

The committee held the convention following a Jan. 21 taking pictures that left 11 folks lifeless and 9 injured throughout Lunar New 12 months celebrations in Monterey Park, California and a taking pictures that killed seven folks and left one injured in Half Moon Bay, California on Monday. 

Po Murray, chairwoman of the Newtown Motion Alliance, defined that whereas California has sturdy gun management legal guidelines, its bordering states don’t. Murray highlighted the necessity for federal laws to scale back gun violence. 

Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) re-introduced a pair of payments to lower the prevalence of assault weapons. The Assault Weapons Ban invoice would ban assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and different high-capacity ammunition feeding units. The Age 21 Act would elevate the minimal age to buy assault weapons from 18 to 21. 

Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) may also introduce a model of the primary invoice within the Home of Representatives, in response to a launch from Feinstein’s workplace. 

Murray stated motion from the Home is essential for stopping gun violence. 

“Nobody coverage or modest insurance policies sort out this challenge. Due to this fact we’ve been pushing for a complete technique to finish this disaster,” Murray stated. 

Murray praised President Biden’s assist for gun reform, including that the administration meets with a coalition of gun violence prevention leaders each different week. 

AAPI group advocates stated that a rise in anti-Asian hate for the reason that begin of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a historical past of violence focusing on Asian Individuals. 

“The truth is that anti-Asian American rhetoric elevated in the course of the COVID 19 pandemic,” Varun Nikore, government director of the AAPI Victory Alliance, stated. “As Asian Individuals, we in fact are a uniquely various group, however we’re united in our concern about gun violence.”

The group leaders inspired organizations and policymakers to advocate for extra  schooling, outreach and analysis surrounding gun security and anti-Asian violence. 

“Each life misplaced to gun violence was preventable,” Refujio “Cuco” Rodriguez, chief fairness and program officer for the Hope and Heal Fund in California, stated.

Rodriguez urged organizations to repeatedly present assets to victims’ households and communities within the aftermath of mass shootings.

He famous the significance of philanthropic assist for communities affected by gun violence and that this help ought to be equitable and ongoing.

“Assist for impacted communities ought to go effectively past the time of the incident,” Rodriguez stated.