Top stories: Lunar New Year shooting in California + News wrap 1/24/23 + Student video
January 23, 2023
Summary
Authorities in California are trying to determine the motive behind the shooting in Monterey Park that killed 11 people celebrating the Lunar New Year. It’s the deadliest shooting the U.S. has seen since 19 children and two teachers were killed last June in Uvalde, Texas. Amna Nawaz reports from Monterey Park and spoke with Rep. Judy Chu about the latest community affected by mass gun violence. For a transcript of this story, click here.
UPDATE: After the shooting in Monterey Park, another mass shooting took place in California on Monday. Officials said the gunman opened fire at a farm and another agricultural business near Half Moon Bay, a small coastal city outside of San Francisco. Watch Another community mourns after 11 killed in California’s 2nd mass shooting in 48 hours to learn more.
Teachers: You may wish to read 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence here. It is understandable for students to feel upset by the events in Monterey Park. Consider inviting your school counselor or administrator to your class to help facilitate the discussion, and let students know there are resources at the school for them to speak with.
Five Facts
- Who is interviewed in this piece?
- What happened in Monterey Park? Where is Monterey Park?
- Why did the shooting occur, according to authorities?
- How have mass shootings and gun violence in general become such a serious and devastating problem in America?
- When did the shooting at Monterey Park take place?
Focus Questions
- Read the quote again from Rep. Judy Chu: “Americans have to raise their voices and show how important this is to them, and especially those living in the districts of those members of Congress who are resistant to this, because those Congressmembers could be the next ones with a mass shooting in their district. Their constituents could be the victims, their neighbors, their family members, their loved ones. So, until we stop this proliferation of gun violence, none of us will be safe.
- Do you think more Americans will look to see where their candidates stand on gun violence as a factor in whether or not they’ll vote for them? Why or why not? Do you think you would take this into consideration at the ballot box one day?
- Media literacy: Who else would you have liked to see interviewed in this piece?
- Optional, if short on time: See, Think, Wonder: What do you notice? What does the story make you think? What do you want to find out more about?
For More
What students can do: Talk with a classmate or a neighbor while reading over the 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence here to see which approaches you think are most helpful.
Check out the latest segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching! You can make a Google doc copy of our Five Facts and discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
Student Video of the Day
Students speak out about the impact gun violence has on their daily lives by PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs
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