The California chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement after six people, including a 6-month old baby, their teenage mother and an elderly woman, were killed on Monday. According to reporting, the tragic shooting took place around 3:30 a.m in a residence in the Tulare County town of Goshen.
“Our hearts break for all the loved ones impacted by this horrible and senseless tragedy,” said Rudy Espinoza, a volunteer with the California Chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We deserve to feel safe in every corner of our state. As gun violence continues to invade our communities and daily life, lawmakers must continue to prioritize common-sense gun safety legislation. We look forward to partnering with lawmakers this legislative session to deepen their investment in gun violence intervention and prevention and to deliver life-saving solutions to our communities.”
The Sheriff’s office noted that the attack does not appear to be a random act of violence but may be linked to cartel activity. To reduce gun homicides and assaults like these within communities, leaders and legislators must continue to invest in community-driven, evidence-based interventions. The Everytown Community Safety Fund supports local, community-based violence intervention programs that have been proven to work—with funding, peer convenings, capacity building, and advocacy support. These initiatives provide community-informed, comprehensive support to people who are most at risk of gun violence.
In 2021, California funded community violence intervention at a record-breaking figure of $200 million. Creating a sustainable, ongoing funding source for community violence intervention programs should continue to be a top priority in the state and will be an essential part of its holistic approach to gun violence prevention. In 2022, the state enacted new laws to further regulate ghost guns, hold firearm industry members accountable, prohibit marketing firearms to children, require school districts to notify families about secure firearm storage, and more.
To learn more about California’s gun laws visit here.
