Gubernatorial candidate Betty Yee joined KCRA to respond to the tragic shooting in Stockton and to discuss the urgent need for California to confront rising gun violence. She emphasized the importance of prevention, stronger investments in community safety, and better coordination between state and local leaders to keep communities safe.
Yee underscored the critical role of community partnership in preventing violence, noting, “It’s the partnership among all of us, staying alert and looking out for one another, that keeps communities safe.” Asked whether she would have visited Stockton in the aftermath of the tragedy, Yee said she would have. “When something like this happens in a community, the shock and trauma don’t end right away. People carry it with them for a long time.”
She also stressed that public safety cannot be separated from access to mental health care, early intervention, and addressing the root causes of violence. Yee reaffirmed her commitment to evidence-based gun safety policies and thanked law enforcement, community leaders, and residents who work every day to protect their neighborhoods.