California gun owners may soon have to purchase liability insurance to own a gun.
Last week, two state senators introduced amended legislation to require such insurance for the negligent or accidental discharge of a gun.
Senate Amendment Bill 8 was introduced by Sens. Nancy Skinner, D-Oakland and Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, following mass shootings across the state in January.
"Victims of gun violence and their families suffer serious economic, mental and physical harm, but have little or no recourse to receive compensation for that harm," Skinner said in a statement.
"Insurance is our society's method of compensating people harmed by, for example, car accidents, medical malpractice, or defective consumer products. Requiring gun owners to carry liability insurance puts the burden where it should be: on the gun owner," he added.
If SB 8 becomes law, California would be the first state in the nation to enact such a law.
San Jose has a gun insurance law, the first such law in the nation. SB 8 will be modeled after San Jose's law, which went into effect earlier this year.
Statewide, 31 people have been killed this month in mass shootings that occurred in Oakland, Half Moon Bay, Monterey Park and, among others, Goshen, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks the numbers. Twenty-four more people were injured in those shootings, according to the same source.
“This bill is a common-sense approach to improving community safety,” Blakespear said. “Under current laws, the victims of gun violence and society at large are the ones who bear the cost of gun violence. This must change.”
Furthermore, he said, “Guns are similar to cars in that they are inherently dangerous and widely circulated. If a car accidentally causes injury to a person or property, the insurance policy will compensate the victim. The same approach should be applied to injuries caused by handguns.”
SB 8 would be like car insurance. Gun owners would be held civilly liable for property damage, injury or death caused by their gun. Gun owners would also have to have proof that they own the gun and keep it with them. If questioned by police, a gun owner would have to show the officer proof.
Blakespear introduced a version of SB 8 last year. The latest version of SB 8 will be like last year's SB 505, which was designed by Skinner. Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge, will also be the lead author of the latest version of SB 8.
The city announced that emergency shelter beds in Redwood City for severe weather conditions are being activated in anticipation of frigid nights.
So, beginning tonight, January 30, emergency shelter beds can be used by those in need due to an overnight minimum forecast of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, with a less than 50 percent chance of rain.
Families or individuals who need shelter due to cold temperatures or inclement weather can call the Fair Oaks Community Center at 650-780-7500 or go directly to 2600 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. :00 to 17:00 hours.
If it is after 5:00 p.m. or during the weekend, those in need can call 650-780-7100 to access the emergency shelter.
The National Weather Service The NWS said the Bay Area and much of Northern California, especially coastal areas, will experience much cooler temperatures Sunday night through midweek.
Frost is likely across the region, at least through Wednesday morning. A freeze warning will be in effect for most areas from Monday night through Tuesday morning. Conditions will be extremely dangerous for people without shelter.
San Mateo County residents will now be eligible for federal disaster assistance after the area was included in the Major Disaster Declaration for the State of California after being affected by storms since December 27, 2022.
That was announced by Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Menlo Park, and Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo, who said disaster relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help residents and business owners facing losses from the storms.
They therefore encouraged homeowners and renters who suffered damage or loss as a direct result of the storms to apply for FEMA assistance before the March 16, 2023 deadline.
Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs, as well as other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses, transportation, child care, and moving and storage costs.
“This will be a huge help to individuals and business owners who suffered losses during the severe storms that dumped 13 inches of rain on the county in December and January,” Mullin said. “My colleague Anna Eshoo and I will do everything we can to help our constituents as they recover and rebuild.”
Notably, Eshoo and Mullin wrote to President Joe Biden on January 23 to request an amendment to include San Mateo County in the Major Disaster Declaration issued for California.
San Mateo County residents can now access individual FEMA assistance by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov to cover basic needs.
The declaration allows FEMA to provide direct support to individuals and households in nine counties: Calaveras, Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz.
Officials said that if you have insurance, you should first file a claim with your insurance provider. FEMA provides assistance to uninsured and underinsured applicants for serious disaster-related expenses and needs.
There are several ways to apply for FEMA assistance under the Individual Assistance program:
Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
Download the FEMA mobile app
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in many languages. If you use Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or other services, provide FEMA with the number for that service. Helpline operators speak many languages and lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.
You can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center and meet with FEMA staff and representatives from other federal and state agencies who can provide you with information about disaster assistance. To find a recovery center near you, visit the DRC Locator (fema.gov).
These are the local news from January 21 to 27 that you need to know to stay up to date.
The heinous mass shootings that took place on Monday, January 23, where 7 people lost their lives and another was injured at a farm in Half Moon Bay, have left not only a county, but the entire state of California in shock and concern about the increase in these violent acts.
Just a couple of days before this tragedy, a 72-year-old man opened fire in the middle of a dance hall where the Lunar New Year was being celebrated, resulting in 11 people dead and 9 injured.
From Peninsula 360 Press, we offer our condolences to the families and friends of the victims of these shootings that, we know, make no sense.
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The San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management is asking residents for help in assessing recent storm damage in unincorporated areas.
For this reason, the City Council has created a survey, which is available in English and Spanish, which will determine if the county qualifies for state or federal disaster assistance due to the storms that began on New Year's Eve 2022.
Please note that completing the survey does not guarantee that the region or property owner will be eligible for disaster assistance.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday issued a proclamation declaring the Lunar New Year and ordered flags at all state buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims of the Monterey Park mass shooting.
"As people across the country and around the world welcome the Lunar New Year today, California stands with our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities reeling from the tragedy in Monterey Park," the official said in the proclamation.
He added that hearts go out to all those lost and those injured in this horrific act of gun violence on what should have been a night of joyous celebration.
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After shootings were reported on Monday afternoon in Half Moon Bay, a city in San Mateo County, police arrested the suspect of perpetrating the crime.
The shooting suspect was identified as 67-year-old Zhao Chunli and was arrested after being located in his car in the parking lot of a sheriff's office substation in Half Moon Bay, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said.
The San Mateo Sheriff's Department responded to the shooting in the area of State Route 92 and the Half Moon Bay City limits, the Sheriff's Office said on Twitter at 3:50 p.m.
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After a 67-year-old man opened fire on a farm Tuesday afternoon, killing seven people, members of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors mourned the deadly shooting in Half Moon Bay and called for more to be done to prevent such tragedies.
Supervisor Dave Pine, chairman of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, said on behalf of the board that he was sickened by what had happened.
For his part, Supervisor Ray Mueller, of District 3, spoke of the shock caused by the shooting that left families devastated.
Despite what recently happened in Half Moon Bay, this celebration comes as a breath of fresh air, as it reminds us to celebrate life and the beginning of a lunar new year, this time ruled by the water rabbit.
The celebration will take place next Saturday, February 4th at the Palace of Justice Plaza, located at 2200 Broadway in Redwood City from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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Sheriff Christina Corpus, along with San Mateo County District Attorney Steven Wagstaff, provided an update on the tragic mass shooting that occurred yesterday afternoon in Half Moon Bay, which they called a possible act of workplace violence.
The suspect, identified as 66-year-old Chunli Zhao of Half Moon Bay, was taken into custody by Sheriff's personnel in the parking lot of the Half Moon Bay Police Department Substation.
The arrested perpetrator is the only suspect in the incident and there is no pending threat to the public, authorities said.
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The Mexican Consulate in San Francisco confirmed that two Mexicans were among those killed in mass shootings in Half Moon Bay on Monday afternoon, January 23.
"The Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco regrets to inform that in the shooting that occurred in the town of Half Moon Bay, in San Mateo County on January 23, 2023, it has been confirmed that two of the deceased persons are of Mexican nationality," states the text issued by the Mexican representation in the city of San Francisco.
He also said that another Mexican person was injured and is being treated in a hospital in the city of Palo Alto, while personnel from the Consulate General in San José are already assisting him.
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The California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) said victims and witnesses of the shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay may qualify for compensation, including lost income, medical expenses and mental health treatment.
Family members of those killed and injured in the Half Moon Bay shooting on Monday, January 23, along with those who witnessed the mass shooting, may qualify for up to $70,000 in compensation for services.
Covered services include emotional support, emotional support, medical appointments, and loss of income.
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As grief, amazement and fear linger over what happened Monday afternoon, January 23, at two Half Moon Bay farms, San Mateo County has made post-shooting mental health resources available to its residents.
Behavioral Health and Recovery Services' Crisis Response Team (CRT) has been meeting with families at the reunification center and other locations in Half Moon Bay, county officials said.
They also noted that CRT staff are trained in crisis response, suicide prevention and other mental health interventions.
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The most recent graduates of Online High School (COHS) were honored with a ceremony at the most recent Redwood City Council meeting to celebrate their accomplishments.
The three graduates who earned their diplomas through Smart Horizons Career Online High School with the help of the program were inspired to enroll by the family who went through the program and in turn, look to inspire their own family members to attend.
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Remembrance events for the victims of the shooting in Half Moon Bay earlier this week will be held in the coming days, city officials said.
Seven people were killed in shootings at two farms in the area on Monday. A fellow farmworker has been arrested and charged in the deaths.
U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, spoke on the House floor Friday about the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, where seven people were killed earlier in the week.
The seven victims who died in Monday's shootings have been identified as Zhishen Liu, 73, Aixiang Zhang, 74, Qizhong Cheng, 66, Jingzhi Lu, 64, Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50, Yetao Bing, 43, and Jose Romero Perez, 38. A co-worker at one of the farms, Chunli Zhao, has been arrested and charged with the murders.
Eshoo, whose congressional district includes Half Moon Bay, spoke on the House floor about the coastal community being “as American as it gets.”
She said: “It’s a bucolic community on the magnificent California coast. It’s known for its pumpkin festival, it’s known for its Maverick competition in terms of surfers, but it’s also known for over a century for its floriculture and its agriculture.”
Eshoo said the killings allegedly committed by Zhao were “intentional, they were targeted, it was an execution. And the children witnessed this.”
He called on his fellow members of Congress to consider their conscience in the wake of the tragedy, one of dozens of mass shootings across the country that have already occurred in the first weeks of 2023.
“When the number one cause of death for children in our nation is gun violence, we have to stop and examine our conscience,” Eshoo said. “We say ‘home of the brave, land of the free’; my prayer today is that we will be the home of the safe.”
A candlelight vigil is planned for 5 p.m. Friday at Mac Dutra Plaza on Main Street in Half Moon Bay. More community memorial events are planned next week, according to the city.
The City’s CARES Team is available seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. by calling 988 or (650) 713-5467 for anyone seeking mental health resources. The San Mateo County Crisis Response Team is also available to provide mental health assistance by calling (800) 686-0101.
Those interested in donating to an emergency campaign created for farmworkers affected by the recent flooding and mass shootings in Half Moon Bay can visit https://gofund.me/ff938946The Farmworker Caravan group, which helps farmworkers in the region, had raised more than $65,000 in the campaign as of Friday afternoon.
A San Francisco state assemblyman has introduced a new bill that would give California community colleges the option of making Lunar New Year a state holiday.
Assembly Bill 264 by Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, allows flexibility to observe the Lunar New Year without increasing the number of days schools would be closed.
For example, Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays could be combined into one holiday, and Lunar New Year could be another.
El proyecto de ley se produce después de que el presidente de la Junta de Fideicomisarios de City College of San Francisco, Alan Wong, aprobara una resolución alentando a la Legislatura estatal a cambiar el Código de Educación de los Colegios Comunitarios de California para permitir la observancia del feriado.
«El Año Nuevo Lunar es la festividad más observada por las familias en las comunidades asiático-estadounidenses e isleñas del Pacífico de California, pero nuestros estudiantes universitarios comunitarios asiáticos e inmigrantes han tenido que decidir entre ir a clase o celebrar con sus padres y abuelos», dijo Wong.
«En un momento en que la comunidad asiática todavía se está recuperando de incidentes motivados por el odio, esta es nuestra oportunidad de promover el entendimiento cultural y apoyar a la comunidad asiática», agregó.
Las audiencias para el proyecto de ley comenzarán en la primavera.
Following the release of a video by Memphis police showing the brutal beating of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols by five officers on January 7, actions that led to his death as he was returning to his mother's home, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus called the events indefensible and repugnant.
“What we saw in that video was indefensible, disgusting and incomprehensible,” Corpus said in a series of tweets posted via the Sheriff’s Office Twitter account. “This is a sad day for Mr. Nichols’ family and our nation.”
The five Memphis police officers were fired from the department this week and charged with second-degree murder, among other crimes.
The release of the officers' body camera videos shows the heinous nature of the assault on Nichols, which led to his death. "What I saw those officers do to Tyre Nichols is deeply disturbing, and their actions stain our profession."
In the series of recordings from the officers' body cameras, which span 60 minutes, it is observed how they try to immobilize Nichols next to his car, which manages to break free and escape on foot. However, minutes later he is caught after a chase and that is when they begin to attack him with punches, blows, clubs and kicks, as well as tasers.
"I condemn what is seen in this video in the strongest possible terms. The actions of these officers greatly damaged the trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve," the sheriff added.
“I will redouble my commitment to serve, protect and engage with our communities with compassion, respect, integrity and dignity. As I have said, we must work together as a community for change,” Corpus stressed. “But I asked that we do so peacefully and with respect for Mr. Nichols in communities across this country struggling to make sense of this senseless act.”
The San Mateo Police Department offered its condolences to the Tyre Nichols family in a statement.
“The San Mateo Police Department offers its deepest condolences to Mr. Nichols’ family, friends and the Memphis community. While we have made great strides in our community to address social injustice, the death of a young African American man highlights the necessary work that must be done to ensure that all members of our society are treated fairly and equally under the law and the criminal justice system,” it said.
He also noted that, for the community of San Mateo, "the actions of five Memphis law enforcement officers tarnish the badge of all police officers in the United States."
“Please know that we stand with you against police brutality and are working every day to raise the bar for the law enforcement profession. As we have demonstrated with our Real Talk San Mateo series, we welcome a conversation to discuss policing and how we can do better.”
They also detailed that if the San Mateo community wishes to invite the Police Department to their next community meeting, virtual meeting or meeting, organizers can send an email to pdpio@cityofsanmateo.org.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
The superintendent of the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) condemned the use of racial slurs and violence following a confrontation earlier this week between a student and a substitute teacher at Richmond High School.
Superintendent Kenneth "Chris" Hurst issued the statement during Wednesday's school board meeting.
"I want to echo our community's concern regarding the incident that occurred in a classroom at Richmond High School on Monday, January 23, in which a student used a racial slur toward a staff member and that staff member responded by physically assaulting the student," Hurst said in the statement.
“I would like to share our immediate response to the incident and also share our commitment to addressing the underlying issues that this incident has exposed,” he said.
Hurst said schools must be psychologically and physically safe for students to learn and educators to teach.
“Physical violence by an adult is never an appropriate response to a child,” Hurst said. “Acts of violence are deeply damaging to everyone present in a learning environment. We also know that racial slurs are deeply damaging to students and staff, and we are committed to restoring a learning environment that affirms the inherent dignity and worth of all members of our community.”
The district is investigating the interaction. Hurst said the substitute teacher was “immediately released from employment with WCCUSD.”
She also said staff are following up with the student and his family to ensure an appropriate response and necessary support.
“We are responsible for supporting the growth and development of all WCCUSD students, even after any transgression,” Hurst said. “As a school community and as an institution of learning, we are committed to the safety and well-being of all students and staff. This includes listening to the voices of our Black students and educators who have shared their experiences following Monday’s incident.”
Hurst stressed that the district provides mental health support to Richmond High School students and has worked with the school’s RHS Black Student Union to support student-led activism and organizing regarding the use of racial slurs and the treatment of Black students and teachers at Richmond High School.
“Specifically, we are moving up our timeline to engage the community, including our teachers, all employees, families and students, in the development of our equity statement, as well as our stances on anti-racism and what we will not tolerate,” Hurst said.
“We strongly support our Black Student Union at Richmond High School’s call to action to stop using the N-word, and we are committed to actively assisting our student leaders in this campaign,” she added.
“We will ensure that Richmond High’s important community organizing work is met with support, resources, and action to create systemic and sustained change.”
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
The threat of a recession for the US economy in 2023 remains latent despite inflation having fallen in the first weeks of this new year.
Job losses, budget cuts and rising prices are some of the concerns that thousands of Americans have in anticipation of an economic recession.
George Fenton, Senior Political Analyst on the Federal Fiscal Policy team, said at a press conference organized by Ethnic Media Services In this meeting, experts met to discuss economic forecasts for 2023, saying that "it is not really known whether there will be a recession," but that if there is, it could be short and deep.
"There is a lot of uncertainty, we are emerging from a historic crisis," he said.
Fenton also noted that there is a 50 percent chance of an economic recession this year, in contrast to Bloomberg's 7 in 10 chance.
Rakeen Mabud, managing director of Policy and Research at Groundwork Collaborative, pointed out that the government has raised interest rates seven times in the past year and that they are likely to rise further.
He also said the Federal Reserve is pushing the country into an economic recession it does not need, causing job losses and severe economic problems.
"The medicine – for the economy – has not yet reached the system and we are likely to see a real economic recession and rising unemployment rates."
In this regard, Mabud pointed out that it is not only important to have a low unemployment rate but also to have quality jobs with medical leave and days off, since having a low unemployment rate does not ensure the economic well-being of families.
The specialist added that today's inflation is being caused because the system is not equipped to meet the population's demand for goods and services in times of crisis, while noting that Congress should approve a federal law against unjustified price increases, since it has been observed that businessmen and producers have increased their prices beyond what their production costs can justify.
Wendy Edelberg, director of The Hamilton Project, noted that actions regarding the corporate tax system—which, according to President Joseph Biden's proposal, would impose a tax on the profits of oil and gas companies—will put the country in a better economic position, although this would be in the long term.
"Fixing the corporate tax system is not necessarily going to solve the problems we face in our economy today. It's not going to solve the urgent problems at hand. It's going to put us on a much better path in the long run," he said.
Edelberg warned that the economy must slow down or something “miraculous” must happen, but this is unlikely because, in his words, “we are spending money as if there had been no pandemic,” and labor force participation is very low, with at least two million fewer workers in the country than expected.
In this regard, Mabud pointed out that from his point of view, "the reason we have higher inflation today is not because people have too much money in their pockets or because they are spending excessively but because we have a system built by and for large corporations that has completely failed to meet the needs of people in a time of crisis," for which reason, he pointed out the need for the Federal Reserve to recognize the importance of workers beyond the war on prices.
Luego de que en los primeros 26 días del año se registraran 40 tiroteos masivos en todo el país, 5 de ellos en California: uno en Monterey Park con un resultado de 12 muertos y 9 heridos, y otro más en Half Moon Bay con 7 asesinados y 1 lesionado, el gobernador Gavin Newsom calificó de «pacto suicida» a la Segunda Enmienda de la Constitución de EE. UU. y llamó a los congresistas a poner cartas en el asunto para sacar de las manos de miles de personas los rifles de asalto.
«Siendo necesaria una Milicia bien regulada para la seguridad de un Estado libre, el derecho del pueblo a poseer y portar armas no será infringido», puntualizan las veintisiete palabras de la Segunda Enmienda de Estados Unidos, una que sin duda alguna tenía sentido en 1791, cuando fue aprobada.
Sin embargo, más de 230 años más tarde, la misma concepción de esta enmienda que forma parte de la Carta de los Derechos Estadounidense, ha dejado a miles de personas sin algún familiar, amigo, pareja o hijo. Razón por la que el gobernador de California se lanzó contra aquellos políticos que no han hecho una verdadera reforma en el uso de armas, las cuales son usadas por perpetradores en tiroteos masivos.
«La causa número uno de muerte de niños el año pasado estaba relacionado con las armas y ‒el Congreso‒ no hizo una maldita cosa. El Congreso está sentado en su trasero. Hay políticos que no están prohibiendo los rifles de asalto, pero si la palabra “Latinx”. Ni siquiera son serios… ¿Qué está pasando en este país?», señaló en una entrevista Newsom.
Instalación en honor a las víctimas del tiroteo masivo sucedido el pasado 23 de enero en Half Moon Bay. Foto: Manuel Ortiz P360P
«Los republicanos ocupados prohibiendo la palabra “Latinx” y los cursos de historia negra AP en lugar de las armas de guerra que están matando a nuestros niños. Sus prioridades hablan por sí mismas», agregó a través de un tuit.
El pasado martes, en una conferencia de prensa desde el condado de San Mateo, lugar al que pertenece la ciudad de Half Moon Bay y donde el lunes se registró un tiroteo en dos granjas agrícolas en el cual 7 personas fallecieron a manos de un hombre 66 años y una más resultara con heridas, el gobernador Newsom señaló que lo que estamos viendo «es un completo y absoluto fracaso del sentido común».
Instalación en honor a las víctimas del tiroteo masivo sucedido el pasado 23 de enero en Half Moon Bay. Foto: Manuel Ortiz P360P
«Las historias son devastadoras. Porque las historias no son solo de heridas de bala o la pérdida de alguien querido, son infinidad de cuestiones. Es la persona que está en la cama de un hospital que tiene la pierna destrozada y le acaban de poner una barra en la pierna, que dice “tengo que salir de aquí porque no puedo pagar las facturas del hospital. Tengo que salir de aquí porque no puedo perder mi empleo mañana. Trabajadores agrícolas que no tiene su queque de pago y no tienen dinero y que ni siquiera pueden comprar comida esta noche», subrayó.
A la terrible situación, se agrega el problema de la política migratoria que reina en el país, donde miles de trabajadores del campo, y quienes mantienen que muchos tengan comida sobre sus mesas, hoy no tienen protección completa.
«El completo y abyecto fracaso de nuestras políticas de inmigración expuso ayer y hoy un completo y abyecto fracaso del sentido común sobre la seguridad de las armas y las políticas de inmigración».
Con un inicio de año difícil para el estado dorado, donde en 22 días cayeron 32 trillones de galones de agua, afrontar crisis de sequías e inundaciones y, ahora, dos tiroteos masivos en dos días, Newsom se dijo más propenso a expresar sus frustraciones con lo que no ve que suceda a nivel nacional, particularmente en el Congreso.
Instalación en honor a las víctimas del tiroteo masivo sucedido el pasado 23 de enero en Half Moon Bay. Foto: Manuel Ortiz P360P
«¡Necesitamos que el gobierno federal haga su trabajo! Esto es de Todos. Nosotros elegimos esto. Es nuestra decisión vivir en estas condiciones… Podemos sentarnos a rezar o podemos mirarnos en el espejo y decir: este es el precio, supongo, de… llenen el espacio, ¿libertad? ¿Libertad de qué? ¿De qué tu hijo sólo haga 6 o 7 ejercicios para esconderse debajo del pupitre cada año, en lugar de 2 o 3? ¿Libertad para qué? ¿Para ser totalmente vulnerable estando en cualquier lugar entre la multitud? ¿Para Bailar con un ser querido en la noche de Año Nuevo?», subrayó.
«La pregunta es ¿por cuánto tiempo más aceptaremos esto?».
a shot in the foot
Las declaraciones hechas por Newsom sobre como la Segunda Enmienda se está convirtiendo en un «pacto suicida», la NRA ‒Asociación Nacional del Rifle‒, organización estadounidense cuyo fin es defender el derecho a poseer armas tanto para la defensa personal como para actividades recreativas, y cuyos inicios se remontan a 1871, mientras caminaba por Monterey Park, lugar donde 12 personas murieron y 9 terminaron lastimadas, fueron calificadas de hipócritas.
«Gavin Newsom calificó la Segunda Enmienda de “pacto suicida” mientras estaba flanqueado por al menos cuatro guardias armados. Esa es la definición de hipocresía», escribió la organización a través de su cuenta de Twitter.
El gobernador no se quedó callado y respondió: «Las personas fueron asesinadas a tiros en un club de baile y su lugar de trabajo — y ESTA es su respuesta. Espero con ansias el día en que su organización de basura quede obsoleta».
Afueras del Star Ballroom & Studio tras el trágico tiroteo masivo perpetrado el pasado sábado 21 de enero en Monterey Park. Foto: Manuel Ortiz P360P
Pese a que la organización Gun Violence Archive informa que en lo que va del año se han registrado 3 mil 50 muertes por arma de fuego, varias como parte de uno de los 40 tiroteos masivos registrados y 6 asesinatos en masa, apenas esta semana la NRA demandó para que se elimine la prohibición de armas semiautomáticas de Illinois. Sí, de esas que se usan muchas veces en esos tipos de crímenes.
«Parece que la Segunda Enmienda se está convirtiendo en un pacto suicida», dijo Newsom en la entrevista a CBS Evening News. «La tasa de mortalidad por armas de fuego de California es un 37 por ciento más baja que el resto de la nación y, sin embargo, con toda esa evidencia, a nadie del otro lado parece importarle un comino».
california against guns
California tiene algunas de las leyes de armas más estrictas de la nación y los grupos de defensa clasifican regularmente al estado entre los mejores de la nación en seguridad de armas. El estado tiene períodos de espera obligatorios y verificaciones de antecedentes para comprar un arma de fuego. También están prohibidas las armas de estilo militar.
A la aprobación de varias leyes para el control de armas, a finales de julio del año pasado se sumó una más, Gavin Newsom, promulgó una ley que permite a los ciudadanos iniciar acciones civiles contra cualquier persona que fabrique, distribuya, transporte o importe armas de asalto o pistolas fantasma, que están prohibidas en el estado. Sin embargo, sin una reforma a nivel federal, poco o nada cambiará.
