Monterrey Park Shooting

As another mass shooting occurs, this time in our own backyard, Neuwirth students reflect, grieve, and call for action.

On January 21, a day filled with celebration in Monterey Park for Lunar New Year ended in a tragedy. At around 10:00 pm at Star Ballroom Dance Studio a shooting broke out leading to 11 deaths and 10 more injured. Headlines broke out the following day about the shooting followed by the capturing of the shooter. The shooter, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, was found with a self-inflicted gun wound during a standoff with Torrance police.  

Below are some reactions from the staff of The Neuwirth Times on Monday, January 23 as we tried to process the tragedy. [Editor’s note: Sadly, since this tragedy, there have been several other shooting tragedies in California. As you can see in the student responses below, the relentless nature of these events happening on such a regular and almost predictable basis has led to an almost unspeakable response as it becomes more and more difficult to find the words to clearly express the sadness and outrage these events evoke.] 

Leslie Alicon, 12

It's extremely heartbreaking that 11 victims died when all they wanted to do was dance and have fun.  People would normally assume that it's a White man who started the shooting but in this case the man is probably Chinese American and is shooting his people when he should really be uplifting his people. Maybe this guy suffered from a mental illness but it still does not excuse his actions. The fact that people no longer react the same as did years ago worries me. Gun violence shouldn't be a thing and I don't understand why the president or congress hasn't implemented rules to stop this madness. I wish that the people who struggle from a mental illness receive treatment so that they can recover and we can prevent situations like this from happening. I feel like this isn't normal anymore and I hope one day society can change. I hope people can become good and help others with compassion.

Ashley Avila, 12

After reading more about the Monterey Park Shooting, I feel frustrated about how these tragedies can continue to happen, despite desperate cries for gun reform. It is disturbing and frightening how accessible guns are in this country that allows another shooting to take place in the U.S. At this point, it is embarrassing how committed legislatures are to keeping gun rights than they are committed to caring about the safety and lives of the people.

Sebastian Rendon, 12

I feel upset. However, not in the way I should feel upset. Ten people were murdered for no reason at all. Nevertheless, when I heard the news I did not feel much about it because it felt like just one of many massacres that have been happening in the last few years. I'm upset that I can't be surprised that someone chose to take other people's lives because of how many times it has happened before. People shouldn't become desensitized to shootings of any degree, but unfortunately, that is the cruel reality.

Amy Calderon, 12

In regards to the shooting that occurred on Saturday, I am terrified as to what this world has become. This celebration was supposed to be filled with joy and excitement but ended in yet another tragedy. We are only three weeks into this year and there have already been 5 mass shootings reported in our country. At this rate, I feel that soon many will be afraid to gather in public and it shouldn't be this way. I feel angry that these mass shootings continue to happen and innocent lives are being taken yet nothing is being done about it. I feel helpless that I can't do anything for the mourning and traumatized families and witnesses of these horrific events. It's devastating to see how dangerous our world is getting and it makes me fear for the safety of my family the second the step outside.I hope something is done about gun violence very soon before it gets any worse.

Hugo Calderon, 11

The shooting that took place this weekend in Monterey park resulting in the death of 10 people and injuries of several more is yet again another reason on why the United States should implement more strict and harsh gun laws. Mass shootings in the United States have become more and more common as the years go on and yet the government refuses to change any laws or policies about firearms. With the Uvalde Texas shooting, Buffalo New York shooting, and many more happening within less than a year of this recent Monterey Park shooting many are left wondering when the Government will finally take action and do something about gun laws in order to prevent more tragedies like the ones above from unfolding.

Cinthia Lopez, 12

The rhetoric surrounding guns in America must shift from being seen as a protective measure to what it actually is, a dangerous weapon. The U.S. makes it all too easy for individuals with dangerous ideologies to own a gun and unfortunately, sometimes the combination of those two results in the deaths of countless people. The shooting at Monterey Park is just another reminder (in an ongoing list of reminders) that things need to change in America before more innocent lives are lost. There need to be more restrictions on owning a gun, things like background checks, mental evaluations, and other measures to ensure that if America must have guns, then at least they won't fall into the hands of those with malicious intent. Unfortunately, it seems rather unlikely that things will significantly change because if no changes were made about a decade ago after the shooting at Sandy Hook, where the victims were literally children yet to experience life, then what hopes are there that changes will be made for others? I feel for those affected by this event and even more so, I'm frustrated at the lack of action/preventive measures.

Hely Quintero, 11

Shootings around the world have become more and more common and articles about shootings have sadly become something we hear often. The mass shooting in Monterey park is another article on a mass shooting in which normal people are doing their everyday activities and have to suffer from the actions of others. Shootings being more common is very concerning how easy it is for people to get guns now and can do whatever they want. Seeing this is very sad and upsetting, especially for the families that have been affected by these shootings.

The victim’s families and friends didn’t deserve to wake up one day to the news of their loved ones being gone. We are all saddened at the fact that gun violence exists and has claimed the lives of the 11 victims: 

• Valentino Marcos Alvero, male, 68

• Hongying Jian, female, 62,

• Yu Lun Kao, male, 72

• Lilian Li, female, 63

• My Nhan, female, 65

• Ming Wei Ma, male, 72

• Diana Man Ling Tom, female, 70

• Muoi Dai Ung, female, 67

• Chia Ling Yau, male, 76

• Wen Tau Yu, male, 64

• Xiujuan Yu, female, 57