Officials have renewed their push for gun safety legislation six months after a mass shooting at a dance studio in Monterey Park.
Victims’ family members, survivors, and local leaders gathered near the site of the massacre to announce new initiatives aimed at preventing similar future tragedies. Representative Judy Chu, whose legislative district includes Monterey Park, expressed her intention to allocate resources to help communities understand and navigate “red flag” laws.
The proposed legislation aims to assist individuals who may be concerned about a relative, friend, or neighbor exhibiting signs of violence. Chu referenced the case of the gunman responsible for the Star Ballroom Dance Studio massacre, where 11 people were killed. The shooter had displayed signs of anger and paranoia, accusing his family of poisoning him and stockpiling weapons, in the weeks leading up to the shooting. However, no one in his life was aware that red flag laws could have enabled them to alert authorities and potentially have the man’s firearms confiscated.
The congresswoman’s proposed bill, HR 4780, the Language Access to Gun Violence Prevention Strategies Act, will aim to eliminate language barriers in understanding these laws. Chu noted that red flag laws have already helped to prevent at least 58 potential mass shootings and other violent incidents in California alone.
Victim family member, Kristenne Reidy, voiced her support for the new legislation, highlighting the lethal potential of a single bullet in the wrong hands.
Additionally, Chu mentioned the Fair Legal Access Grants (FLAG) Act, which could provide $50 million in grants to community organizations that can assist individuals in navigating the legal system when attempting to temporarily disarm potentially violent individuals. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna endorsed the legislation, stating that it would enable people to comfortably contact authorities, regardless of their language.