By tf-lawyer.com In an exclusive interview, we spoke with Mr. Chen, a Chinese immigrant who has been settling in Baldwin Park, California, for just a month. His visit to the U.S. is meant to embrace the joys of newfound grandparenthood. However, Mr. Chen admitted that he’s been struggling to adapt, particularly due to his concerns about safety in America. He recounted his daily routine of walking outside while remaining hyper-aware of his surroundings.
Recently, Mr. Chen had a startling experience right outside his home. On the night of October 14th, just past 11 PM, he was at home using his computer when he suddenly heard the loud sirens of multiple police cars. Initially, he thought it was distant traffic noise, but the sounds grew closer and more intense, accompanied by the thrum of a helicopter hovering overhead. “The helicopter felt so close, it was like it was right above me,” he recalled. Before long, several police vehicles stopped about 20 meters from his front door.
Realizing something was happening in his neighborhood, Mr. Chen quickly turned off all the lights in his house. He could see the red and blue lights reflected on his ceiling, saying, “It was so loud, it felt like a scene from a movie.”
Feeling anxious, he locked the doors leading to the yard and garage and raised the curtains to peek outside. His son, hearing the commotion from the second floor, came down to assess the situation. After about five minutes of escalating tension, the sirens abruptly ceased, prompting four or five neighbors to step outside to get a closer look. Mr. Chen’s son contemplated going out to investigate, but Mr. Chen stopped him. “Better not go out. What if the criminals are armed? I’m just scared you might get taken hostage,” he expressed.
That night, Mr. Chen found it nearly impossible to sleep, kept awake by the flashing lights and sounds from the police cars outside. The next morning, he learned through his WeChat neighborhood group that the police had been pursuing a thief who had entered their gated community. The thief drove in through one gate but was intercepted by law enforcement at another entrance, resulting in damaged gates and a dramatic scene, complete with several police cars and the helicopter overhead.
Mr. Chen noted that, although Baldwin Park is primarily home to Hispanic residents, the Chinese community is growing, now making up about a fifth of the population.
Having frequently seen news reports of gun violence in America from China, Mr. Chen said these stories have left him feeling uneasy about safety here. During his month in the U.S., he’s taken on the task of taking out the trash at night, but every time he hears outside noises, he gets scared. Despite his son reassured him that some of the sounds are just fireworks, Mr. Chen remains anxious. “Everything in America is pretty good, except for the gun situation,” he commented. He expressed concern that disagreements among people could turn violent, leading to potentially terrible consequences.
