California reeling from back-to-back mass shootings

As mourners have been gathering Monday night for a candlelight vigil in Monterey Park for 11 individuals killed by a gunman at a dance studio, phrase unfold of one other mass taking pictures in Half Moon Bay.

Siu Fong, a Monterey Park retiree who volunteers on the Langley Senior Heart, knew two of the victims of that taking pictures. With one other spasm of violence lower than two days later, she was left questioning: What is going on?

“I might say there must be somewhat bit extra gun management,” she stated. “In fact, lots of people say they want weapons to guard themselves, however the factor is, perhaps they want stronger background checks. I don’t need individuals going to gun outlets to get weapons.”

California is reeling from three mass shootings carried out in a single week.

Six individuals have been discovered fatally shot inside a house in Goshen, Calif., on Jan. 16 in a case police consider could possibly be tied to organized crime.

On Saturday night time, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran walked into the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park and opened fireplace, killing 11. He then went to a second dance membership in Alhambra however was disarmed. Police suppose jealously over a private dispute might need been the motive within the assault however emphasize that the investigation is continuous.

Tran carried a 9-millimeter MAC-10 when he walked into the Monterey Park dance corridor about 10:20 p.m. Saturday and started spraying bullets as frightened patrons ducked for canopy. Authorities recovered at the very least 42 spent shell casings from the scene.

Then Monday afternoon, seven extra individuals have been killed in two shootings in Half Moon Bay that authorities say are related. A 67-year-old man is suspected of opening fireplace at two rural farms a few mile aside, taking pictures a number of the victims in entrance of kids who lived close by and had not too long ago been launched from faculty.

The taking pictures suspect, recognized as Chunli Zhao, was believed to work at one of many farms. Police haven’t revealed a motive in these shootings.

“Tragedy upon tragedy,” Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was visiting Monterey Park on Monday, stated of the 2 assaults.

California has a number of the strictest gun legal guidelines within the nation, and there was discuss of much more restrictions within the wake of the newest violence.

Knowledge counsel the principles have made a distinction. As The Instances reported final yr, in 2005, California had virtually the identical fee of deaths from weapons as Florida or Texas, with California reporting 9.5 firearms deaths per 100,000 people who yr, Florida reporting 10 and Texas 11, in keeping with information from the Nationwide Heart for Well being Statistics. Since then, California repeatedly has tightened its gun legal guidelines, whereas Florida and Texas have moved in the other way.

Nonetheless, the persevering with mass killings have many looking for solutions.

“That is tragic on a number of ranges,” San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa stated. Noting that the victims within the Half Moon Bay shootings have been Chinese language farmworkers, he stated it was “horrific that it’s a Lunar New Yr [and] you’ve individuals massacred each in Monterey Park and within the Half Moon Bay space. We ought to be celebrating, however as an alternative we discover ourselves — due to gun violence — burying harmless individuals.”

Some are calling for tighter gun legal guidelines.

“We’re sickened by at the moment’s tragedy in Half Moon Bay. The scourge of gun violence has sadly hit dwelling,” San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine stated in a press release.

“We now have not even had time to grieve for these misplaced within the horrible taking pictures in Monterey Park. Gun violence should cease. The state of California has among the many strictest gun legal guidelines in the USA, which now we have strengthened by native motion right here, however extra have to be executed,” he stated. “The established order can’t be tolerated.”

Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) lamented the dimensions of violence to hit California in such a short while.

“Two hours in the past, I joined my colleagues on the Capitol steps for a vigil for the victims of the taking pictures in Monterey Park,” he stated on Twitter. “Earlier than we’ve even had an opportunity to mourn them, there’s yet one more mass taking pictures — this time in Half Moon Bay. In my district.”

Talking to reporters Monday earlier than the Half Moon Bay taking pictures made information, Newsom talked about what California has achieved on gun management.

“The success is demonstrable. It’s overwhelming, that our gun security legal guidelines save lives. And also you see management right here again in 1967, when the trendy gun rights motion was launched, then by Ronald Reagan, you noticed it with the assault weapons ban in California 1989, led once more by California senator in 1994. California will proceed to guide purple flag legal guidelines, background checks, ready intervals throughout the spectrum,” he stated.

However the governor famous that individuals who wish to keep away from California gun legal guidelines can merely go to a state with lesser laws, purchase weapons and produce them again.

It stays unclear how the weapons used within the three newest mass shootings have been acquired.

On the memorial in Monterey Park, many stated they got here to honor the victims and switch to others for consolation.

“There’s one thing about being with others who really feel simply as unhappy as you do,” stated Enrique Hernandez, who had arrived on a bicycle. “You don’t really feel so alone.”

When he heard concerning the Half Moon Bay shootings, he added: “An excessive amount of bloodshed.”