The California chapters of Students Demand Action and Moms Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement after four children, all under 12, and their grandmother were shot and killed in Los Angeles County late Sunday night. Reports indicate that the children’s father was the shooter. One of the children who was shot and killed was an infant. Details are still developing.
“This gut wrenching tragedy should not have happened — our hearts are with the loved ones of the family taken by this shooting,” said Kasey Zahner, Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action in California. “Five lives, including four young lives, were cut short by the person who was supposed to protect them most — this cannot and should not be our reality. We must do more to protect all of our communities, especially children, from gun violence.”
In an average year, 3,090 people die and 6,843 people are wounded by guns in California. Firearms are the 2nd leading cause of death among children and teens in California. Black children and teens in California are 6 times as likely as their white peers to die by guns. Gun violence costs California $22.6 billion each year, of which $1.2 billion is paid by taxpayers. Learn more about gun violence in California here.