Marking Three Years Since the Monterey Park Mass Shooting, Rep. Chu Honors Victims by Introducing Gun Safety Legislation

On the anniversary of the Monterey Park shooting, Rep. Chu remembers those lost and reintroduces commonsense measures to prevent gun violence

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Three years ago today, the community of Monterey Park, California, was forever changed by a mass shooting at Star Dance Studio that claimed the lives of 11 beloved neighbors and left 9 others seriously injured. It was the deadliest mass shooting in Los Angeles County history and occurred on the eve of Lunar New Year, turning what should have been a joyful celebration into a devastating tragedy for a close-knit, predominantly Asian American community.

Today and every day, we remember:

Valentino Marcos Alvero
Hongying Jian
Yu-Lun Kao
LiLan Li
Ming Wei Ma
Mymy Nhan
Diana Man Ling Tom
Muoi Dai Ung
Chia Ling Yau
Wen-Tau Yu
Xiujuan Yu

Rep. Chu released the following statement:

"Not a day goes that I don't grieve our eleven neighbors who we lost so senselessly in a mass shooting three years ago. To honor their lives, I believe we must transform our grief into action by working to end gun violence, so no other community has to endure the devastation of a mass shooting.

"Monterey Park is a predominantly Asian American community, where many residents have limited English proficiency and were not made aware of how to exercise gun safety tools available to them, like red flag laws and federal guidance on gun violence prevention. The shooting made it clear that our communities need Congress to address these gaps.

"That is why I am reintroducing two bills to help put an end to gun violence in America. The first, the Language Access to Gun Violence Prevention Strategies Act, would require outreach about red flag laws, gun violence prevention, and gun safety by federal government agencies to include robust in-language materials, outreach to Limited English Proficient (LEP) communities, and culturally competent education to community providers and law enforcement.

"The second, the Fair Legal Access Grants (FLAG) Act, would ensure that anyone filing a red flag petition - a legal request asking a court to grant an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) to temporarily remove firearms from someone who poses a danger to themselves or others - has access to resources like legal representation," said Rep. Chu.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) will be reintroducing these bills in the Senate.

"Expanding and strengthening red flag laws across the country is a necessary step forward in making our communities safer. All too often, school administrators, law enforcement officers, and family members don't have the time or support needed to navigate our court system and successfully file a red flag claim when they notice an individual with access to firearms exhibiting troubling or potentially dangerous behavior," said Senator Gillibrand. "My FLAG Act and the Language Access to Gun Violence Prevention Strategies Act would empower community members with the tools and services needed to intervene and help remove firearms from individuals who may pose a danger to themselves or others. I am proud to work with Representative Chu to help make our communities safer and end firearm tragedies."

The Language Access to Gun Violence Prevention Strategies Act has been endorsed by the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), Newtown Action Alliance, Giffords, Everytown for Gun Safety. The FLAG act has been endorsed by Newtown Action Alliance andEverytown for Gun Safety.

Rep. Chu continued, "While it has been deeply disheartening to watch President Trump dismantle the historic gun violence prevention progress that President Biden and Democrats fought tirelessly to achieve, I will not stop fighting to protect all of our communities from gun violence. Monterey Park deserves better, and our country must do more to protect our communities and prevent gun violence.

"So, as we honor the lives lost three years ago in Monterey Park, let us recommit to coming together to pass strong, comprehensive gun safety reforms and finally put an end to gun violence."

The Language Access to Gun Violence Prevention Strategies Act would:

• Provide for competent, community reviewed, translations of all public facing resources provided by DOJ and HHS related to gun violence prevention strategies;
• Direct the Attorney General to ensure federal grant applications for funds related to the creation and implementation of extreme risk protection orders and other prevention efforts incorporate meaningful engagement with communities with high numbers of individuals with Limited English Proficiency; and
• Direct the Attorney General and Secretary of HHS to develop and implement a national public awareness campaign for federally supported gun violence prevention strategies and firearm ownership safety with a focus on outreach and engagement with LEP communities.

The FLAG Act would provide $50 million in annual funding to states and local governments to provide access to legal counsel and other legal services. Eligible recipients include police departments, district attorney offices, community-based legal aid organizations, and more.

Click HEREfor the full bill text for the Language Access to Gun Violence Prevention Strategies Act.
Click HEREfor the full bill text for the FLAG Act.