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Statement

Again and Again and Again, This Time Against Asian Americans. The Gun Violence That Is Plaguing Our Country Must End.

January 22, 2023
Gun Control

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of leaders of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the horrific mass shooting targeting the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Monterey Park, California last night:

“Last night, on the eve of the first day of the Lunar New Year, celebrated by millions of Asian Americans in the United States, a man opened fire at a dance studio in Monterey Park, killing ten and injuring ten more. This is the 5th mass shooting in the United States already in 2023, and one more excruciating reminder of the devastation gun violence is causing our communities and our country.

“The Lunar New Year is a day for gathering with families and friends in celebration, love and safety. Asian Americans own the fewest guns, and gun ownership is generally not part of our culture, so this horrific intrusion of gun violence on one of our most important and widely observed holidays is truly a shock for our entire community. I ache for the families in Monterey Park, and will be holding my loved ones closer today.

“That this happened in Monterey Park, which is 65 percent Asian and the first community in the United States to be majority Asian, is especially painful. We deserve to live, and raise our kids, in communities that are free of gun violence.” 

-Statement of Gloria Pan, Senior Vice President, Gun Control, MomsRising

“Our hearts break for the victims, their families, the people of Monterey Park, and everyone affected by America’s latest mass shooting. We stand with all Asian Americans who woke up this morning expecting to celebrate the Lunar New Year but instead are mourning and feeling even more unsafe after years of COVID-related anti-Asian racism and violence. We refuse to accept the mass shootings and gun violence that continue to devastate the nation, disproportionately harming people of color.

“The sheer number of firearms in the United States, plus the inexcusably easy access to them, is the root cause of our unique and tragic epidemic of gun violence, which takes lives every single day. America’s moms do not want to raise our kids in a society where schools, grocery stores, spas, clubs, churches, synagogues, mosques, movie theaters, and other venues – and even our holidays – are not safe. It is past time our elected leaders stop glorifying gun ownership and instead enact the comprehensive gun policy reform we need. That must begin with a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, air-tight background checks, and more.”  

-Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.