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‘We Were Targeted’: How the Massacre Is Changing How Asian Americans View GunsUS gun control

Kevin Leung, head instructor at the Kung Fu School in Monterey Park, Los Angeles County, CaliforniaThe past eight weeks have been a turmoil of readjustment to normal.

his academy, Xiu Lum Pai Kung Fu Associationheld weekly classes for years star ballroom dance studio, he knew many members of the community.to counteract the rise anti-asian violence During the pandemic, Leung led many free self-defense classes there for seniors in Asia.

But since a shooter opened fire in a ballroom on Chinese New Year in January, killed 11 peopleLeon questions the effectiveness of community-driven safety initiatives (which often protect the most vulnerable members of the group) in the absence of stricter gun control policies.

“We have trained ourselves and put ourselves in the community to be more vigilant,” he said. Come in. What can you do?”

Nearly two months after the back-to-back shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, California, 18 Asian-American organizers, gun owners, and gun control advocates, most of them older Asian Americans, person) died within 48 hours. Opinions are divided on how to deal with the twin rises of gun violence and gun ownership in communities. Both perpetrators, who were also Asian immigrants, made him one of the oldest mass shooters in U.S. history.

Even before the shootings, more than two-thirds of Asian Americans in the state said they were concerned about gun violence. highest level Among all racial groups, according to the 2021 California Health Interview Survey. Nearly half of his teens, black and Asian American, expressed concern about becoming victims of gun violence.Asian Americans too strong support for stricter gun control.

However, this is not always the case.Poe Murray, co-founder of the Newtown Action Alliance, a national gun control advocacy group, said gun deaths historically low Therefore, Asian Americans are not vocal about gun control on a national scale and do not view gun control as an issue that affects them.

“I think things started to change in the last few years after we became targets of gun violence,” she said, referring to the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and a string of high-profile mass shootings. Mentioned.

The pandemic has increased anti-Asian violence. Photo: Gina Moon/Reuters

Asian Americans’ growing familiarity with gun violence is also a sign of assimilation, some experts say.Countries like South Korea and China dominate Shooting sports also impose severe restrictions on private gun ownership.

The Newtown Action Alliance, along with progressive groups AAPI Victory Alliance, MomsRising, and Chinese for Affirmative Action, formed the AAPI Against Gun Violence coalition to reach out to the Asian diaspora on the issue of preventing gun violence. These groups have led efforts to ban assault weapons and introduce safeguards such as universal background checks and the Ethan Act, which requires gun owners to keep their firearms.

Joe Biden visited Monterey Park last week to meet with families and victims of the shooting and presidential decree It aims to expand background checks before firearms sales. At a more local level, Dave Min, a Democratic state senator and vice chairman of the Asia-Pacific Legislative Council, introduced a law last month banning banks with ties to gun manufacturers from operating in the state. , provide federally licensed gun dealers with an annual training course on Responsible Selling Practices.

However, some Asian American gun owners view these actions as political stances that do not reflect the concerns of community members. At Monterey Park residents and business owners He told The Guardian he was “relieved” that the attacks were not racist-motivated, and argued that gun laws do not prevent all attacks.

Ray Kim, founder of the Asian-American Gun Owners Facebook Page in California, an affinity group with more than 8,000 members, said violence against Asian seniors and women is what he calls “AR- 15 said it is being used to justify what he calls the ‘banning story’. .

Since the group’s founding in 2020, Kim said, its membership has surged three times amid waves of anti-Asian violence. The first was at the beginning of the shutdown due to the pandemic. Next was during a George Floyd protest. Finally, after the Thai elder was murdered, Vitya Rattanapakdiin San Francisco in February 2021.

Asian Americans have brought in record numbers of guns in the past three years, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade group. A study found that Asian Americans who experienced or witnessed an increase in racist acts during the pandemic were more likely to purchase firearms for self-defense. peer-reviewed research From the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.

“We must be professionally trained and make a special effort to seek appropriate ways to adopt the right cultural attitudes towards gun ownership,” Kim said.

Harris in front of a photo of people with wreaths around them
Kamala Harris leaves flowers for a makeshift memorial at Star Ballroom Dance Studios in January. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

For Tom Nguyen, founder of Firearms Academy LA Progressive Shooters, the shooting in California reflects a rapidly growing mental health crisis. Senior Asian immigranta demographic traumatized by wave after wave of violence.

Calling for stronger gun control, he said, felt like a “predictive” response from politicians after such a tragedy.new limit Permits to carry secret weapons in public won’t stop people unwilling to obey the law, but it will stop gun owners from “exercising their right to defend themselves,” he said. Stated.

Nguyen said he expects interest in his academy to grow in the coming weeks, as is often the case after high-profile mass shootings. Many of his Asian students have purchased their first guns in the last few years. rise in murder and heinous crimes.

“They say, ‘I need to do something to protect myself and my family,'” he said.

When Brittney Au founded Compassion in SGV, it was a volunteer group providing escort and self-defense services to senior Asians in the San Gabriel Valley. shooting incident.

For Au, the Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay tragedies were not only shocking, but also a wake-up call for Asian Americans to do more to fight for tougher gun control measures. bottom.

“Buying guns is too easy and shouldn’t be,” she said. “Buying a gun shouldn’t be easier than buying over-the-counter drugs.”

Murray of the Newtown Action Alliance said the increase in Asian-American gun ownership is a worrying trend. high risk of suicide.

Murray said the AAPI Coalition Against Gun Violence has been working to educate Asian Americans about the danger guns pose to their communities.Part of that education was shedding light, she said. gun lobby method It has used the collective fear of hate crimes to increase its profits.

From 2015 to 2019, 3,000 or more Asian Americans are dying from gun suicides, homicides, and accidental shootings. Last month’s spate of attacks marks a long run of mass shootings targeting victims in Asia, from his 1989 elementary school shooting in Stockton, California, where five refugee children died, to 2021. It follows the list. Atlanta Spa Massacre Eight women died, including six of Asian descent.

“What is to be expected is more gun deaths and injuries as more and more guns infiltrate all communities,” she said.

Summarize this content to 100 words Kevin Leung, head instructor at the Kung Fu School in Monterey Park, Los Angeles County, CaliforniaThe past eight weeks have been a turmoil of readjustment to normal.his academy, Xiu Lum Pai Kung Fu Associationheld weekly classes for years star ballroom dance studio, he knew many members of the community.to counteract the rise anti-asian violence During the pandemic, Leung led many free self-defense classes there for seniors in Asia.But since a shooter opened fire in a ballroom on Chinese New Year in January, killed 11 peopleLeon questions the effectiveness of community-driven safety initiatives (which often protect the most vulnerable members of the group) in the absence of stricter gun control policies.“We have trained ourselves and put ourselves in the community to be more vigilant,” he said. Come in. What can you do?”Nearly two months after the back-to-back shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, California, 18 Asian-American organizers, gun owners, and gun control advocates, most of them older Asian Americans, person) died within 48 hours. Opinions are divided on how to deal with the twin rises of gun violence and gun ownership in communities. Both perpetrators, who were also Asian immigrants, made him one of the oldest mass shooters in U.S. history.Even before the shootings, more than two-thirds of Asian Americans in the state said they were concerned about gun violence. highest level Among all racial groups, according to the 2021 California Health Interview Survey. Nearly half of his teens, black and Asian American, expressed concern about becoming victims of gun violence.Asian Americans too strong support for stricter gun control.However, this is not always the case.Poe Murray, co-founder of the Newtown Action Alliance, a national gun control advocacy group, said gun deaths historically low Therefore, Asian Americans are not vocal about gun control on a national scale and do not view gun control as an issue that affects them.“I think things started to change in the last few years after we became targets of gun violence,” she said, referring to the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and a string of high-profile mass shootings. Mentioned.The pandemic has increased anti-Asian violence. Photo: Gina Moon/ReutersAsian Americans’ growing familiarity with gun violence is also a sign of assimilation, some experts say.Countries like South Korea and China dominate Shooting sports also impose severe restrictions on private gun ownership.The Newtown Action Alliance, along with progressive groups AAPI Victory Alliance, MomsRising, and Chinese for Affirmative Action, formed the AAPI Against Gun Violence coalition to reach out to the Asian diaspora on the issue of preventing gun violence. These groups have led efforts to ban assault weapons and introduce safeguards such as universal background checks and the Ethan Act, which requires gun owners to keep their firearms.Joe Biden visited Monterey Park last week to meet with families and victims of the shooting and presidential decree It aims to expand background checks before firearms sales. At a more local level, Dave Min, a Democratic state senator and vice chairman of the Asia-Pacific Legislative Council, introduced a law last month banning banks with ties to gun manufacturers from operating in the state. , provide federally licensed gun dealers with an annual training course on Responsible Selling Practices.However, some Asian American gun owners view these actions as political stances that do not reflect the concerns of community members. At Monterey Park residents and business owners He told The Guardian he was “relieved” that the attacks were not racist-motivated, and argued that gun laws do not prevent all attacks.Ray Kim, founder of the Asian-American Gun Owners Facebook Page in California, an affinity group with more than 8,000 members, said violence against Asian seniors and women is what he calls “AR- 15 said it is being used to justify what he calls the ‘banning story’. .Since the group’s founding in 2020, Kim said, its membership has surged three times amid waves of anti-Asian violence. The first was at the beginning of the shutdown due to the pandemic. Next was during a George Floyd protest. Finally, after the Thai elder was murdered, Vitya Rattanapakdiin San Francisco in February 2021.Asian Americans have brought in record numbers of guns in the past three years, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade group. A study found that Asian Americans who experienced or witnessed an increase in racist acts during the pandemic were more likely to purchase firearms for self-defense. peer-reviewed research From the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.”We must be professionally trained and make a special effort to seek appropriate ways to adopt the right cultural attitudes towards gun ownership,” Kim said.Kamala Harris leaves flowers for a makeshift memorial at Star Ballroom Dance Studios in January. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty ImagesFor Tom Nguyen, founder of Firearms Academy LA Progressive Shooters, the shooting in California reflects a rapidly growing mental health crisis. Senior Asian immigranta demographic traumatized by wave after wave of violence.Calling for stronger gun control, he said, felt like a “predictive” response from politicians after such a tragedy.new limit Permits to carry secret weapons in public won’t stop people unwilling to obey the law, but it will stop gun owners from “exercising their right to defend themselves,” he said. Stated.Nguyen said he expects interest in his academy to grow in the coming weeks, as is often the case after high-profile mass shootings. Many of his Asian students have purchased their first guns in the last few years. rise in murder and heinous crimes.”They say, ‘I need to do something to protect myself and my family,'” he said.When Brittney Au founded Compassion in SGV, it was a volunteer group providing escort and self-defense services to senior Asians in the San Gabriel Valley. shooting incident.For Au, the Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay tragedies were not only shocking, but also a wake-up call for Asian Americans to do more to fight for tougher gun control measures. bottom.”Buying guns is too easy and shouldn’t be,” she said. “Buying a gun shouldn’t be easier than buying over-the-counter drugs.”Murray of the Newtown Action Alliance said the increase in Asian-American gun ownership is a worrying trend. high risk of suicide.Murray said the AAPI Coalition Against Gun Violence has been working to educate Asian Americans about the danger guns pose to their communities.Part of that education was shedding light, she said. gun lobby method It has used the collective fear of hate crimes to increase its profits.From 2015 to 2019, 3,000 or more Asian Americans are dying from gun suicides, homicides, and accidental shootings. Last month’s spate of attacks marks a long run of mass shootings targeting victims in Asia, from his 1989 elementary school shooting in Stockton, California, where five refugee children died, to 2021. It follows the list. Atlanta Spa Massacre Eight women died, including six of Asian descent.”What is to be expected is more gun deaths and injuries as more and more guns infiltrate all communities,” she said.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/20/asian-americans-gun-control-violence-shootings ‘We Were Targeted’: How the Massacre Is Changing How Asian Americans View GunsUS gun control

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