Dallas, Texas, one of the top 10 cities in the US, is a city where many Koreans live, as many large corporations, including Samsung Electronics, are located there. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2020, 10,589 Koreans out of about 1.3 million people in Dallas were counted. It is also known as an area with a large Korean community after Los Angeles (LA), New York, and New Jersey.
In particular, ‘Allen Premium Outlets’, where the shooting took place, was a place frequented by Koreans, so the Koreans were in great shock. Shane Lee, a real estate broker in the Dallas area, told reporters on the 7th (local time), “Alan City is a city where Korean immigrants are increasing recently. Korean residents were shocked by the outlet incident.” Another resident said, “It is terrifying to have to be careful of outlets in broad daylight after there have been shootings at elementary schools, supermarkets and in the yard of one’s own house.”
As the possibility of this incident being a racial hate crime is strongly raised, the Korean community in the United States is also trembling with anxiety. A Korean resident in New York said, “Last year, a Korean woman was murdered by a homeless man, and a Chinese woman was pushed onto the subway tracks. If the motive for this shooting is a hate crime against Asians, it is horrifying to imagine.”
Texas’ lax gun control is also being pointed out as a problem. California, which has the strictest gun control in the United States, has more than 100 related regulations, but Texas has only 18. From September 2021, residents who legally own firearms can carry firearms in public places without obtaining a separate license or training.
There are also frequent gun incidents. Last year, 19 elementary school students were killed in the Euvaldi massacre, which occurred in the area. Five members of a family were killed by neighbors just a week ago. However, after eight people were killed in a mass shooting in just a few days, criticism is spreading that it is due to poor gun control.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott made it clear in an interview with Fox News that day that he would not strengthen gun control, emphasizing the importance of responding to mental illness that can control anger and violence. The problem isn’t guns, it’s mental health.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.