ATLANTA — Georgia’s Legislative Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus is calling for gun control legislation in the aftermath of mass shooting at an Asian event in California Jan. 21.

Eleven people of Asian decent were killed and at least 10 others were injured at Monterey Park, Cali, which is a predominantly AAPI city, on the eve of the Lunar New Year — also known as the Chinese New Year. Monterey Park is a predominantly AAPI city.

“What should have been a joyous night celebrating new beginnings with family and friends has become yet another tragedy in the ever-growing list of mass shootings in the United States, a uniquely American phenomenon that we have failed as a society to address,” the Caucus said in a statement.

The Caucus suggests that the ease of access to weapons contributes to the frequency of mass murders, an issue that has less frequency in other countries. The Gun Violence Archive has documented as least 36 mass shootings, or shooting in which four or more victims are killed or injured, in the U.S. since Jan. 1. Five of those mass shooting resulted in mass murders where four or more victims have died.

The Caucus said it pledges to honor the victims of the tragedy by advancing concrete solutions to address gun violence and continuing efforts to pass gun safety legislation.

“Our communities deserve to live, raise families and celebrate together free from the fear and threat of gun violence. Inaction is inexcusable,” the statement continued. “We cannot talk about public safety without discussing the immediate, constant and pervasive threat that gun violence poses to the public. We cannot offer condolences without consideration of common sense gun safety legislation to protect those we took an oath to serve.”

According to reports, an elderly man of Asian decent, later identified as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, entered a ballroom in Monterey Park and opened fire. Reports indicate Tran proceeded to shoot up another dance hall in a nearby city but an employee tackled Tran and took the magazine-fed semiautomatic pistol away from him. Tran reportedly fled and died by suicide in a white van 25 miles from the Monterey Park.

No motive has been determined; however, reports indicate Tran was once affiliated with the ballroom in Monterey Park.

On Jan. 23, seven more people, identified as Chinese and Latino victims, were killed in mass shootings on and near a farm in Half Moon, Cali. The 67-year-old shooter, who appears to be of Asian decent, turned himself in to police and is reportedly a disgruntled employee of one of the locations where the shootings happened. Police reportedly recovered a semiautomatic weapon from his vehicle.

Democrat Sen. Michelle Au, chair of the Georgia’s Legislative Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus, on Jan. 24 announced the filing of two gun reform bills. HB 45 would require a three day waiting period between applying for and purchasing a gun. HB 44 would require background checks for private gun sales and transfers. Currently, background checks for purchasing a gun in Georgia are only performed when a gun is purchased from a retailer.

AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore said rising gun violence is the greatest concern in the AAPI community, according to a poll conducted by the group.

“Sadly, the gun industry and the NRA have taken advantage of continued rising hate and violence against the AAPI community as a tactic to market and sell us even more guns,” Nikore said. “We continue to call on Congress to enact more meaningful and effective gun safety legislation. Our community needs swift action now; we will keep fighting until our leaders listen and enact national legislation!”

In recent years, Asians are also one of few races that have seen an increased rate in reported hate crimes.

According to FBI hate crimes statistics, though underreported, since 2019, anti-Asian hate crimes have continued to increase nationally from 2.2%, 3.37% to 4.17% in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively.

Anti-Asian hate crimes in Georgia comprised 3.78% of hate crimes in 2021, largely attributed to the March 2021 shooting spree at three metro Atlanta spas or massage parlors. Six of the eight people killed were women of Asian descent and one other person was wounded.