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Everytown, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Statements On Mass Shooting At Lunar New Year Celebration In Monterey Park

1.22.2023

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. — Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements on the mass shooting at a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park, California in which 10 people were reportedly shot and killed and at least 10 more were shot and wounded. This is the fifth mass shooting so far this year in which four or more people were killed, not including the shooter.

“Every day in this country a community is shattered by gun violence. Today we woke to the fifth mass shooting of the year, a mere 22 days into the New Year,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Everyone should be free to celebrate with their friends, family, and community without fear of being shot. We stand in solidarity with all those grieving in Monterey Park and will continue fighting to save lives.”

“Unfortunately this is another day in America’s gun violence epidemic. The AAPI community has been the target of increasing violence and are now traumatized yet again by senseless, preventable gun violence,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “We don’t have to live like this, and our loved ones should never die like this. We must demand further action by lawmakers at all levels to address the gun violence epidemic in this country.”

“On a day that should be celebrating new beginnings, we woke up to news of tragedy. Our hearts are with everyone impacted by this devastating shooting, ” said Mia Livas Porter, a gun violence survivor and volunteer with the California chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Details are still emerging but we know this is the latest tragedy fueled by America’s gun violence crisis to strike an AAPI community. We won’t stop fighting to end gun violence.”

Since 2009, the U.S. has had at least 297 mass shootings, defined as four or more people shot and killed, resulting in at least 1,660 people shot and killed and 1,076 people shot and wounded. This includes at least 31 mass shootings in California, resulting in 168 people shot and killed and 76 people shot and wounded. The reach of each mass shooting stretches far beyond those killed and wounded, harming the well-being of survivors, their families, and entire communities.
In an average year, 3,160 people die and 7,293 are wounded by guns in California. It has the 45th-highest societal cost of gun violence in the US at $1,060 per person each year. Gun deaths and injuries cost California $41.9 billion, of which $1.1 billion is paid by taxpayers.