First, Ukrainian survivors recount deadly bus attack. Then, Montana’s fight to block public land sales. And, a look at the rooms left behind after school shootings.
Tag: Gun Control
-
Mom of Annunciation mass shooting survivor on mission to strengthen gun laws
In the aftermath of a summer of gun violence in Minnesota, the push to put limits on semi-automatic weapons here has stalled.
One group has not given up, and those are the survivors and loved ones of those directly affected by gun violence including one of the parents of a child injured in the deadly Annunciation Catholic Church mass shooting.
In the past six months, Minnesota has been the site of horrifying gun violence. In June, there were the execution-style murders of House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hostman and her husband Mark, and the attempted assassination of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.
Then in August came a mass shooting in Minneapolis that killed one and injured six. The very next day there was, the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis left students Harper Moyski and Fletcher Merkel dead and more than 20 wounded.
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz immediately called for a special session on guns, but repeated negotiations between the governor and legislative leaders have failed to come up with a compromise all parties could support.
There has also been a call for a constitutional amendment to limit semi-automatic weapons to be put on the ballot, but that too has seemed to sputter.
In September, some Annunciation parents went before a state legislative committee in a powerful, emotional plea for change. And at least one parent, Tess Rada, has become a crusader, joining Walz at town hall meetings around the state and talking to whoever will listen.
Rada’s third-grade daughter, Lila, survived the shooting and was physically uninjured. Rada was a guest on WCCO Sunday Morning.
“I don’t want any family to have to feel what I felt that day,” Rada said.
She said she will not stop pushing for change.
“It seems the best way to do that is taking assault weapons off the streets, because nobody should be able to fire 116 rounds in two minutes and cause that kind of destruction,” Rada said.
With the Legislature evenly divided, it’s unlikely further gun control laws will pass in the 2026 legislative session. Many Republicans and some Democrats think the Legislature went too far in 2023 when it passed a red flag law and tighter background checks.
Like many conservative Republicans, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, a candidate for governor, has opposed a constitutional amendment and any restrictions proposed by the legislature. She believes an assault weapons ban won’t work.
“The money would go like text book aides, so it can go to a school whether the child’s in public school, private school or charter school,” Robbins said.
While surveys show a constitutional amendment to ban assault weapons could have enough support to be approved by voters, the hurdle is getting it approved by the Minnesota Legislature to get on the ballot. With the divide in the Legislature, it seems unlikely.
Watch WCCO Sunday Morning with Esme Murphy and Adam Del Rosso every Sunday at 6 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Esme Murphy
Source link -
St. Paul becomes first city in coalition to pass gun violence prevention ordinance
St. Paul, Minnesota has adopted a comprehensive gun violence prevention ordinance on Wednesday. The ordinance bans assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. It was passed unanimously by the City Council.
The ordinance will not take effect until the state preemption law is lifted.
The passing of the ordinance comes after state lawmakers and city leaders called for stricter gun control laws in the wake of the Annunciation Catholic School shooting.
St. Paul is the first Minnesota city, in a coalition of 17, to adopt a gun prevention ordinance. Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Minnetonka, Richfield, Rochester and several others are hoping to adopt a similar measure.
In late October, the St. Paul City Council introduced the ordinance and residents shared their thoughts last week.
Currently, a state preemption law does not allow for individual cities to make their own ordinances over gun mandates.
“Saint Paul stands ready to act on day one when the state lifts preemption,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “This ordinance represents a collective effort by local leaders taking a long-overdue step to protect our children, families, and neighbors.”
The ordinance does establish five provisions:
- Banning the possession of assault weapons, large-capacity magazines and binary triggers within city limits
- Prohibit “ghost guns,” by requiring serial numbers on all firearms
- Restricting firearms in certain public places such as parks, libraries, recreation centers and city buildings
- Require clear signage in public facilities
- Define enforcement authority and penalties
The ordinance does exclude active-duty law enforcement and military personnel.
The above video originally aired on Nov. 5, 2025
Chloe Rosen
Source link -
St. Paul city council hears residents’ thoughts on city ordinance aimed at restricting guns
The Saint Paul, Minnesota city council turned the mic over to residents on Wednesday, with over a dozen people sharing their thoughts on a city ordinance aimed at restricting guns.
“This is common sense gun legislation,” said city council president and ward two council member Rebecca Noecker. “we’re trying to do what we know the majority of saint Paul residents.”
Noeker is one of the ordinance’s sponsors and wednesday marked it’s second time before the council. The proposed ordinance would ban public possession of assault weapons, large capacity magazines and binary triggers. It would require all guns to have serial numbers and restrict firearms in some public spaces like parks and libraries, require public facilities to inform residents of the new restrictions and define enforcement style and penalties.
There would be exceptions for active-duty law enforcement and military personnel, as well as licensed federal firearms curators and those transporting guns through the city.
The main hurdle, however, is Minnesota’s preemption law, which blocks cities from creating their own gun ordinances.
Noeker acknowledged the preemption law saying the city council sees this as a way to put pressure on state lawmakers.
“Its’ really important for two reasons one, to show what the city councils values are what the city of Saint Paul believes is acceptable and unacceptable,” Noeker said. “It’s also important to pressure the legislature to take that action.”
Rob Doar from the minnesota gun owners caucus says they plan to file a lawsuit, citing state statute 471.633, which reads, ‘Local regulation inconsistent with this section is void.’
“There’s a lot of things the city can do in order to try to mobilize action,” Doar said at the meeting Wednesday. “The one thing you can’t do is pass an ordinance that violates state law.”
Noeker says the city is ready for that legal challenge and believes council is within their rights to pass it.
“I feel very strongly that we have unanimous support for this ordinance,” she said.
Noeker says there’s still time for residents to share their perspective on the ordinance before council members vote on the matter next week.
Ashley Grams
Source link -
Minneapolis mayoral candidates debate one week from election
Four of the Minneapolis mayoral candidates went head-to-head in a debate hosted by WCCO’s Frank Vascellaro on Tuesday night.
This was one of several and the final debate for the candidates ahead of the election on Nov. 4.
The debate was livestreamed (INSERT LINK HERE) and included the top four candidates for Minneapolis mayor:
- Incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey
- State Sen. Omar Fateh
- Rev. DeWayne Davis
- Jazz Hampton
Gun control
One of the hot topic issues of the evening was gun control.
After the mass shooting at Annunciation this summer both Frey and Fateh called for better gun control with Fateh calling on Gov. Walz to convene a special legislative session on the issue.
During the debate Tuesday night, all four candidates reiterated the need for better gun control measures.
“This is an issue that we can all agree upon,” said Fateh.
The candidates were asked about a gun control ordinance for Minneapolis. A current Minnesota statute states that a city cannot make their own law over gun control. All four candidates expressed the desire to get an ordinance for the city, if preemption is no longer a hurdle.
“Preemption law means that cities cannot change city ordinance. But once that “big law” is gone you can put it it [city ordinance] into the books to snap it into place immediately,” said Hampton. “So we have to put those ordinances on the books today and once they’re there we can turn to our partners in the legislature and say ‘it’s already on the books, we won’t even argue with what we need to do. All you need to do is remove preemption.”
“Here’s the thing, we can pass laws, even with state preemption, we can put on the books banning assault weapons, registering guns and banning assault weapons, registering guns and banning high capacity clips,” said Davis.
“We need to ban fully automatic weapons at the state and federal level. And ban high capacity magazines at the state and federal level. and if the state and the feds are unwilling or unable then give us the ability to do it in cities,” said Frey.
“Coming up with solutions at the city level so that things can click once we pass our ordinances, we can get it right at the state, we can make it happen,” said Fateh.
Homelessness
Another point of contention has been the topic of people experiencing homelessness within the city.
All four candidates emphasized a need for a better response team and resources to help those experiencing homelessness..
“We should have a homeless response team and an outreach [team. So that] a homeless encampment won’t form in the first place,” said Davis during the debate. “What are we doing to make sure that when one person sets up in a space that we have the outreach, that we have the intention, that we are moving them away before an encampment takes place.”
“Nobody wants encampments it’s not fair. But unlike [the] mayor I want to clear encampments by housing people,” said Fateh. “Bulldozing them block by block is not a solution. Bulldozing our neighbors does not house them and it only allows for another encampment to prop up.”
The recent legal battle between Hamoudi Sabri and the city over homeless encampments on Sabri’s property was brought up during the debate Tuesday.
“The encampment that you [Vascellaro] mentioned, the Sabri encampment, that individual is now bankrolling Sen. Omar Fateh’s PAC,” said Frey.
“It’s unfortunate that we had a situation in which a private citizen, Sabri as mentioned, addressed the situation. It shouldn’t be that way,” said Fateh.
Over the summer, Sabri turned his property into an encampment for people experiencing homelessness — this led to a monthslong legal battle with the city claiming the cite was a “public nuisance.” A judge granted Minneapolis’ temporary restraining order against Sabri, barring him from allowing homeless encampments on any of his properties until further order from the court. Sabri has since
In mid-September, seven people were shot at the encampment and one of them died.
Downtown
A topic of interest has been the revitalization of downtown Minneapolis. Downtown has been struggling since the COVID-19 pandemic and in Oct. 2024, Frey announced his Downtown Action Plan in an effort to draw more back to the area.
During the debate the candidates shared how they would draw people back to the area.
Hampton used his personal experience when discussing the topic, citing the area no longer was “walkable” and the need to draw more people to live in and near downtown. He also stated the need to work with small and large businesses to ensure they “are not leaving and feel safe and secure in the city.”
“The downtown is still full opportunity and potential,” said Fateh. “I want to ensure that we’re filling our storefronts with local small businesses. Ensuring that we are removing barriers for folks to start a business, that’s why I want to have a strong office of small business support, that can provide start up grants for businesses.”
More on the candidates
Earlier this summer, Fateh won the city DFL’s endorsement in an upset. However it was pulled following a complaint by Frey, with whom the state DFL eventually sided.
The compliant from Frey’s campaign alleges that the state DFL’s investigation found nearly 200 votes missing and called the process “flawed.” They claim an “extraordinarily high number of missing or uncounted votes produced by the highly flawed and untested electronic voting system.” The campaign also alleged there’s “no plausible reason” why over 20% of the total delegates and alternates would skip voting.
Gov. Tim Walz endorsed Frey for a third term. In a statement earlier this summer Walz said Frey “is a partner I can trust to actually deliver progressive policies that improve people’s lives.”
Tune in for special live coverage of all races and results on election night on Nov. 4. Polls in Minnesota close at 8 p.m.
WCCO News will provide live results online from every race in the state, including dozens of school referendums as voters decide if taxes should be raised to pay for improvements and education programs.
Results will also appear as soon as they come in on CBS News Minnesota, and key races will be shown at the bottom of the screen on WCCO-TV later in the evening.
For more information on finding your local polling place, check the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.
If you or someone you know needs help finding affordable housing-related options, get help from the HousingLink. Additional programs can be found at Housing Benefits 101.
Chloe Rosen
Source link -
Gov. Walz, DFL Leaders hold first in series of gun violence town halls around Minnesota
Governor Walz and DFL leaders say they’re hitting the road and plan to make stops around the state to talk with Minnesotans about gun violence.
Meanwhile, negotiations in St. Paul have stalled and legislative leaders in a politically divided Capitol are at a stand still when it comes to addressing gun violence at a special session.
DFL leaders made their first stop in Waconia on Saturday afternoon. Hundreds of attendees filled the high school auditorium to hear more from Governor Walz and Gabby Giffords, a gun violence survivor and former congresswoman.
Though, the crowd first heard Tess Rada, the parent of a third grader who attends Annunciation Catholic School. Some Annunciation parents and families filled a section of seats near the stage, sporting Annunciation t-shirts.
“If your child was one of the lucky ones who survived, imagine finding them that day shaking crying covered in blood,” said Rada, recalling the day that 30 people were injured and two children were murdered in the August 27th shooting at Annunciation in Minneapolis.
“I understand that guns are a part of American life and the right to own them is constituently protected but the cost of these particular weapons is simply too high.”
Governor Tim Walz then took the stage, answering a handful of pre-selected questions, alongside a physician, educator and Giffords.
While he’s advocated for a ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in the past, and vowed to call a special session, the governor acknowledges progress in that area has slowed and turned his attention to another route.
“I will tell all of you, well, put it on the ballot and you can vote for a constitutional amendment on this. Then let the people vote,” said Governor Walz on Saturday.
In the case of a constitutional amendment, Walz would still face a divided legislature as that kind of proposal must pass both chambers before it would make it to the ballot for voters to decide.
“I think it is important that we look at every option available to us and any of those whether it is a constitutional amendment, or a comprehensive agenda will have to go through the legislature,” Sen. Erin Murphy, DFL Senate majority leader, told reporters after the event.
Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth says some democrats aren’t committed to the effort Walz is pushing.
“Since the governor couldn’t even get his own members on board with a special session on banning guns, it appears he’s moved on to holding campaign rallies hosted by the DFL that aren’t truly open to the public,” Demuth said in a statement.
The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus called this event “political theater” adding, “[the governor’s] agenda is too extreme for even his own party”.
The DFL plan to hold similar events across the state. The next is scheduled in Rochester on November 6th.
Ashley Grams
Source link -
As negotiations stall, Gov. Tim Walz says special session on guns may be a
Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders in a politically divided capitol are at a stalemate over the terms of a special session in response to the Annunciation Church shooting that killed two children and injured more than two dozen others six weeks ago.
But the governor on Wednesday suggested that if there isn’t a breakthrough in those negotiations, calling lawmakers back to St. Paul would not be worth it, which marks a shift from his previous position.
“I need to get an agreement on this,” Walz told reporters. “If we’re going to hold a special session on safety of our children and safety of our streets and safety on gun violence. We need to talk about guns. And if the folks who hold veto power over this—which they do because of the makeup of the Legislature—if they say that’s not going to happen, calling a special session is going to be a waste of money and a waste of time.”
Walz last month said he would call a special session “one way or another” after the shooting, with or without Republican support for certain measures ahead of time. He alone has the power to do that.
He has met with DFL and GOP leaders in both chambers several times over the last several months to set parameters about what the work in a special session would look like, as is common practice, but neither side has found common ground.
His comments come as authorities say the number number of victims injured from the shooting increased from previous totals. Minneapolis Police said the number of people hurt that day was 30, including 10-year-old Harper Moyski and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel who died. Initially investigators said that only 21 others were injured by gunfire.
A police spokesperson explained that many of the additional victims had wounds from bullet fragments that weren’t discovered until later.
Walz and DFL leaders want a vote on an assault weapons and high capacity magazines ban among other proposals. Last week they suggested in an offer to their GOP colleagues the special session start on Monday, but the governor never formally called it.
Meanwhile, Republicans’ offers in return do not list specific policies but instead want the special session to focus on the topics of school safety, public safety and mental health. None of their proposals so far have mentioned guns specifically.
“This is not going away,” Walz said, when asked if there comes a time when a special session is too late, since the 2026 session is slated to begin in February.
The shooting happened six weeks ago with no plan for it to happen in the near future.
“The question then becomes, does it make sense, if you get further into that — do you bring this up in February. I hope we get a resolution before then. I think we owe it to the people of Minnesota to have a resolution before then. But it’s a valid point,” the governor said.
It’s also unclear if there are the votes on either side for any gun measures at this time. Some additional gun rules failed to get the necessary support to pass the state Senate when the Democrats had control of both chambers and governor’s office in 2023 and 2024.
Now the House is tied and the DFL-led Senate is down one vote due to a vacancy.
“Even when Democrats had the majority, they didn’t even bother having committee hearings on those bills,” said Rep. Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, the Republican floor leader in the House, during a news conference last week.
Pressure continues to mount for a special session. On Wednesday, faith leaders delivered a letter to Walz with the signatures of 700 clergy members all across the state asking for the special session and to pass an assault weapons ban.
Some of them were joined by other members of the community on the steps of the capitol for the first day of their “Seven Days of Prayer and Action” campaign calling for a change. They will have the prayer service every day until next Tuesday.
Among those in attendance was Mike Haasl of Brooklyn Park. He said he understood from a pragmatic point of view why calling a special session may be “foolish” if the votes aren’t there to pass any meaningful policies.
But he argued it may be worth a try.
“Unless people of faith and people around the state, stand up and say, ‘this is wrong,’ and we’re going to do what we can do, and even if it’s not [going to pass], we’re going to keep trying and trying and trying. I think it’s the right thing,” he told WCCO.
The governor and legislative leaders haven’t met in a week and there isn’t anything scheduled.
Caroline Cummings
Source link -
President Donald Trump’s DOJ argues against gun ban signed by Gov. JB Pritzker after Highland Park shooting
President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice weighed in Monday against the ban on high-powered firearms that Illinois and Gov. JB Pritzker passed after the Highland Park Fourth of July mass shooting in 2022 but found itself on the defensive as an appellate court justice grilled an assistant attorney general about whether “facts matter” as she tried to justify the administration’s position.
In arguing before the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Harmeet Dhillon, the U.S. Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, said the nation has a “strong interest” in ensuring that the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms is “not relegated to a second-class right” and criticized claims from state officials that certain guns covered by the ban are suited more for military operations than routine self-defense.
But Judge Frank Easterbrook interrupted Dhillon early during the five minutes the court allowed her to speak even though the federal government is not a party to the case. Easterbrook noted the legal challenge from state officials resulted from a ruling by a district court in southern Illinois that determined the ban was unconstitutional, while a court in northern Illinois previously ruled a similar ban was legally sound.
“Suppose the (southern Illinois) district court had found every contested issue of fact in favor of the state. Would that affect your review of the statute’s constitutionality?” asked Easterbrook, who was appointed to the bench in the 1980s by Republican President Ronald Reagan.
As Dhillon began answering by saying, “It would not, your honor,” Easterbrook fired back, “So you don’t think the facts matter?”
Dhillon, who has been a regular on Fox News, responded by saying she thinks the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals’ previous arguments that have kept Illinois’ gun ban in place are “inaccurate,” while acknowledging the adverse court decisions on similar cases are tough for the courts to navigate.
“It is a challenge courts of appeals have to face, and harmonizing disparate factual findings is always a challenge, and ultimately, courts of appeals will have to do that,” she said. “The United States position is that AR-15s and similar weapons are clearly ‘arms’ that are protected by the Second Amendment. They are not militaristic. The militaristic analysis is not even a correct rule to apply. It is not found in Supreme Court precedent. It is not appropriate historically. And it is not appropriate in the context of today.”
While it’s unusual for a top-ranking Justice Department official to request — and be granted — time to speak in such a case that it is not party to, Dhillon’s involvement is an indication of just how far the Trump administration is willing to go to fight Illinois’ gun ban. Pritzker, the two-term Democratic governor who has been a consistent Trump foe, has repeatedly defended the law as constitutional, reasonable and necessary.
If the appellate court overturns the law in Illinois’ favor, gun rights groups are expected to push for the case to go before the U.S. Supreme Court. In July 2024, the 6-3 conservative-majority high court decided against taking up the case because the legal challenges to the gun ban were in their early stages. But Justice Clarence Thomas wrote at the time that the Illinois ban is “highly suspect” and that the high court should accept the full case if it comes back for review.
Pritzker signed the ban on so-called assault weapons in January 2023 in response to the Highland Park shooting that claimed seven lives and left dozens injured. The law prohibits more than 100 semiautomatic rifles, handguns and shotguns, high-capacity magazines and other accessories, and requires gun owners who possessed these weapons prior to the ban to register them with the Illinois State Police.
A central issue in the case has been whether the gun ban passes muster under a new constitutional test requiring gun laws to be “historically” consistent with laws on the books in the 18th century or earlier. That’s derived from the landmark 2022 U.S. Supreme Court case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, in which the 6-3 majority ruled citizens have a right to carry a handgun in public for self-defense. Bruen also holds that the Second Amendment protects firearms that are in “common use” in everyday society.
Gun rights groups, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation, have cited the Bruen case to argue Illinois’ ban on many semiautomatic guns — requiring the trigger to be pulled once per round — is too broad because it doesn’t protect guns that are commonly used by law-abiding citizens, including AR-15- and AK-47-type guns that are subject to the Illinois ban.
But Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office argued the prohibited weapons are not considered “arms” under the Second Amendment and that they possess the same qualities as military weapons that are not commonly used for self-defense.
Illinois Deputy Solicitor General Sarah Hunger said the prohibited guns, particularly AR-15s, should not be typical for civilian use and that if the courts say it’s constitutional for the courts to ban automatic weapons, the same principle applies to semiautomatic weapons.
“It’s much more frequent that it’s happening recently,” Hunger said of mass shootings. “Mass shootings are a very specific type of event and this law was enacted to prevent this type of shooting.”
Originally Published:
Jeremy Gorner
Source link -
Three Annunciation Catholic School moms demand action during town hall
Three women stood together on stage at a town hall in Plymouth, Minnesota on Sunday, bound together by the tragedy their children experienced inside Annunciation Catholic School on August 27.
“I don’t want any other parent or family to feel this misery,” said Malia Kimbrell.
Kimbrell’s 9-year-old daughter Vivian was rushed to the hospital after over 100 bullets shattered the windows of Annunciation Catholic School. Vivian was shot multiple times. Now, Vivian is recovering at home and Kimbrell is advocating for a ban on assault weapons.
“It’s more mental health resources and safer gun storage and better background checks and detecting potential threats online and improved security measures and banning assault weapons,” Kimbrell said Sunday. “If the next mass shooting happens at your child’s school, what type of weapon are you comfortable with the shooter being armed with?”
The group was brought together by Democratic Rep. Kelly Morrison as a town hall focused on gun violence prevention, for members of Minnesota’s third district.
“By taking action, that’s how we honor Harper, Fletcher and all the lives taken by gun violence,” said Carla Maldonado.
Maldonado has two children at Annunciation and described the panic she felt after she and her husband heard the gunshots that morning from their home nearby.
“We cannot accept a world where civilians have access to weapons designed for battlefields,” Maldonado said.
Stephanie Moscetti, a mother of two, also shared her fear that day. Saying her children are changed, espeically her son who was friends with Fletcher Merkel, an 8-year-old boy who was killed in the attack.
“My son was an honorary pallbearer at his friends funeral, how is this our reality?” Moscetti questioned. “Our kids deserve safe schools, they deserve safe childhoods where they can play and learn.”
About a week ago, a Minnesota Senate work group focused on addressing gun violence met for the first time, listening to pleas from some of these same parents.
Gov. Tim Walz has vowed to call a special session to address the issue, though a date has not been set.
If a bill is presented, the legislation would need the support of both democrats and republicans.
House Republicans previously released their list of policies to consider in a special session, which included school security grants, more funding for mental health beds and mandatory minimum prison sentences for repeat gun offenders.
Ashley Grams
Source link -
Senate panel hears testimony on assault weapons ban, other ideas for gun violence prevention
Students from St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists walk out to protest at the Minnesota State Capitol joining faith groups and gun control advocates in calling for a ban on assault weapons Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 following the mass shooting at Annunciation Church. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
Lawmakers heard testimony from parents, first responders and faith leaders Monday as they considered a myriad of proposals to address gun violence in the aftermath of a shooting at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis that left two children dead and more than 20 others injured.
Gov. Tim Walz said he will call a special session on gun violence this fall, and the Senate Gun Violence Prevention Working Group is evaluating which proposals could be viable in a divided Legislature.
An assault weapons ban — and any other law regulating firearms — is unlikely to pass, given Republicans’ temporary one-seat majority in the House, and dissent within the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party over gun control bills. The House is expected to return to a tie after a Sept. 16 special election in Brooklyn Park to fill the seat left vacant by the murder of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman.
The working group heard testimony from five parents of Annunciation students who were hurt in the shooting, and from doctors who treated the injured students, all in support of a bill that would ban civilian ownership of “semiautomatic military-style assault weapons” and high-capacity magazines — those that hold more than ten rounds.
“It is up to our lawmakers to decide which weapon our next mass shooter is armed with,” said Malia Kimbrell, the parent of a third-grade student at Annunciation who was injured in the shooting.
Dr. Tim Kummer, medical director of community outreach for Hennepin EMS, responded to Annunciation in the minutes after the shooting. A 12-year-old girl had what appeared to be a small graze wound on her head — but below the surface, the bullet’s velocity created a shockwave, causing the child’s brain to bleed. Doctors had to remove a section of her skull.
“From a handgun, that wound would likely have only been a graze wound, but from a high powered rifle, it became a life threatening brain injury,” Kummer said. “Assault rifles turn survivable injuries into fatal ones.”
The working group also heard proposals that would do the following:
-
Establish an Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Minnesota Department of Health.
-
Require gun buyers to complete a firearm safety course before purchasing a gun.
-
Create a public awareness campaign for Minnesota’s new “red flag” law, which allows judges to order the confiscation of weapons from a person deemed a danger to their own safety or others’.
-
Create a Civil Commitment Coordinating Division within the Office of the Attorney General, tasked with streamlining the civil commitment process and collecting data on outcomes for those who are civilly committed.
-
Require serial numbers on all firearms, including those that are 3-D printed or assembled at home.
-
Allow local governments to ban firearms from city-owned or leased buildings.
-
Require all gun owners to store their weapons unloaded and equipped with a locking device; or loaded or unloaded in a locked firearm storage unit or gun room.
Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, did not attend the meeting but submitted a bill to increase penalties on people convicted of impersonating a law enforcement officer. A man impersonating a police officer shot Hoffman and his wife Yvette before murdering Hortman and her husband Mark in the early morning hours of June 14.
Sen. Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, submitted to the working group an article he co-authored in 2019 with a natural medicine doctor who spread false information about COVID-19 before dying of the virus in 2021. The article attributes the rise in mass shootings to the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, a common type of antidepressant. That claim has been repeated by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, but psychiatrists and other experts have debunked a causal link between SSRIs and violence.
The working group will meet again Wednesday morning.
-
-
Major gun-rights groups oppose the Trump administration’s idea to ban trans people from owning guns
The Trump administration’s reported proposal to ban transgender people from owning guns has drawn condemnation from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and every other notable gun-rights group in the country.
The Daily Wire first reported Thursday, based on anonymous Justice Department sources, that senior officials in the department are considering using their rulemaking authority to declare that trans people are mentally ill, stripping them of their Second Amendment rights. Other major news outlets rereported the story.
The Justice Department hasn’t issued any such rule yet, or attached a name to any of the statements leaking out to the press, so this all amounts to more of a trial balloon. But as Reason‘s Jacob Sullum wrote, the idea is “legally loony.” There is no statutory authority for such a categorical decree. Even if Congress did pass such a law, it would be unconstitutional based on current Supreme Court precedent and prevailing circuit court opinions.
If the Trump administration was hoping to get a pass from gun-rights groups over these small details, it will be disappointed. Categorical bans—issued by executive fiat no less—have been a red line for pro-Second Amendment groups and lawmakers for decades.
“The NRA supports the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans to purchase, possess and use firearms,” the organization posted Friday on X. “The NRA does not, and will not, support any policy proposals that implement sweeping gun bans that arbitrarily strip law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights without due process.”
The Second Amendment isn’t up for debate. pic.twitter.com/AQwouV4VDd
— NRA (@NRA) September 5, 2025
Stephen Gutowski, an independent journalist covering gun rights and the gun industry, reported that the NRA wasn’t alone: “Every major gun-rights group has now spoken against the idea of the DOJ trying to strip trans people of their gun rights en masse,” he posted on X Friday.
Gutowski’s tally included Gun Owners of America, the Second Amendment Foundation, the Firearms Policy Coalition, the National Association for Gun Rights, and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
“Disarming trans individuals based purely on their self-identification flies in the face of the Constitution and the current administration’s purported support for the Second Amendment,” the Second Amendment Foundation said in a statement to Newsweek. “Beyond the bad policy and constitutional infirmities of such ‘considerations’ the Department of Justice has no authority to unilaterally identify groups of people that it would like to strip of their constitutional rights. SAF sincerely hopes that the reports of such considerations by the DOJ are inaccurate, as the policy reportedly being contemplated is worthy of the strongest possible condemnation and legal action.”
Second Amendment groups often remind gun-control advocates that, historically, things don’t tend to go well for minority groups after they’re disarmed by the government, so it’s good to see them presenting a united front against just such a proposal.
If the Trump Administration has any ability to read the room, it will quietly forget about its idea to illegally strip a group of Americans of their constitutional right to bear arms.
C.J. Ciaramella
Source link -
Principal of Annunciation Catholic School calls for change in letter to Vice President JD Vance
The Principal of Annunciation Catholic School, Matthew DeBoer, penned a letter to Vice President JD Vance, recounting the day a gunman fired over 100 bullets through his church.
Writing about the children who held each other under the pews that day, DeBoer said, “Love was greater than fear. God was greater than evil in these minutes that felt like an eternity.”
The principal shared his heartbreak over the loss of 10-year-old Harper Moyski and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, and continued prayers for 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, who is still battling severe injuries in the hospital.
DeBoer’s letter also called for change, something he’s been doing since the attack.
“Let’s do something so that nobody has to do this again and let’s honor the kids lives who were stolen from them by doing this together,” DeBoer said in an interview with CBS News the day after the Aug. 27 shooting. “It’s my hope that, like we said yesterday, when you pray move your feet.”
That phrase, “When you pray, move your feet,” has united the Annunciation community in the days since the tragedy.
DeBoer went on to write, “May our faith inform our politics. May our beliefs inform our action. May our right to live matter more than someone’s right to access a tool for death.”
The vice president and second lady visited Annunciation Catholic Church on Wednesday, meeting with DeBoer, church leaders and the parents of both Moyski and Merkel.
“I think that there is obviously, there is a strong desire from across the political spectrum to do something so these shootings are less common,” Mr. Vance said shortly before leaving Minnesota.
Vance in a post on X Wednesday afternoon requested prayers for Forchas and for the focus to remain on the children, not the shooter.
Some parents are also asking for change, directing their concerns toward politicians, including the mother of 9-year-old Vivian St. Clair, who survived multiple bullet wounds.
“To our lawmakers and people in power, who the hell is going to do something? Who is going to make meaningful change and take tangible steps to break the cycle?” Malia Kimbrell, the mother of St. Clair, asked.
Ashley Grams
Source link -
Walz’s gun plan wouldn’t stop shootings, but it might shred civil liberties
Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz announced on Tuesday plans to hold a special legislative session to introduce new statewide gun control measures, including a ban on “assault weapons.” This comes in the wake of last week’s tragic mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, which left 21 injured and 2 dead.
Despite assurances that the proposals would not infringe upon Second Amendment rights, Walz’s proposed measures raise significant constitutional concerns. In addition to a ban, Walz proposed a law that would mandate stricter standards for safe storage, increased funding for mental health treatment, and further expansion of Minnesota’s 2023 red flag laws.
The governor’s statements drew mixed reactions, mostly along partisan lines, with state Democrats largely supportive. Echoing Walz’s call, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, and eight other city leaders urged repeal of Minnesota’s 1985 preemption statute, which bars local governments from enacting stricter gun laws than the state. Even if broader legislation fails, they insist cities must be able to act.
State Republicans, despite expressing their willingness to work with Democrats to address gun violence, have predictably voiced skepticism toward the proposed measures, citing concerns about potential civil liberties violations, questioning the governor’s intentions, and ultimately doubting that a bipartisan resolution could be reached.
Walz still seems willing to work with Republicans. But whatever kind of legislation the special session produces—particularly restrictions and/or local bans on common firearms—will likely face constitutional challenges if ratified.
The Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen established that all state and local-level gun regulations must align with firearm laws that were in place at the time of the Constitution’s framing. Since then, courts have overturned various state-level gun control laws, including bans on so-called “assault weapons,” for not reflecting that standard—among them, Illinois’ attempted prohibition of semiautomatic rifles and Tennessee’s ban on concealed carry in public parks.
In Minnesota, these complexities extend further. The push to repeal the state’s preemption law—designed to prevent municipalities from passing stricter firearm ordinances than the state—would unravel decades of legal consistency, exposing residents to a fragmented landscape of local regulations and expanding the potential for municipal overreach. However, concerns over state overreach are not merely theoretical.
Since red flag laws first emerged in 1999, civil liberties advocates have warned of due process erosion, as courts have authorized firearm seizures through ex parte orders with minimal evidentiary standards. In many cases, individuals lose their constitutional rights without being criminally charged or having a chance to dispute allegations. This lack of clarity can lead to deadly misunderstandings, as in 2018, when Maryland resident Gary Willis was killed by police while being served a red flag order issued without his knowledge. Extreme though it was, the case underscores how such laws can escalate risk and undermine core constitutional protections.
Rather than address these deficiencies, Walz appears ready to double down, suggesting not only an expansion to his earlier red flag laws, but also broader state authority to disarm citizens based on subjective assessments of future risk. If the current trajectory continues, Minnesota may soon serve as a national test case for how far civil liberties can be curtailed in the name of safety.
Jacob Swartz
Source link -
Vice President, Second Lady pay tribute; meet with families of Annunciation shooting
A few parents of Annunciation victims had the chance to speak with Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance during their visit to Minneapolis on Wednesday.
An emotional moment of explanation and a call to action after Lydia Kaiser’s parents met with Vice President Vance.
Statement’s from Lydia Kaiser’s parents, Leah and Harry Kaiser
Leah Kaiser’s letter:
Hello. My name is Leah Kaiser. I am Lydia Kaiser’s mother.
I have given a lot of thought about speaking publicly and have decided I have something to say.
First, I want to say to Jackie, Mike, Jesse and Molly—my heart hurts for you and for your pain of losing your beautiful children, Harper and Fletcher. Harry and I and so many others are with you in your grief.
I want to thank Father Zehren, Principal DeBoer, and the teachers- for protecting our little ones. And the amazing first responders and hospital staff for bringing us to safety and treating our injuries.
All of us—moms, teachers, you reporters and vice presidents- we all have an obligation to use this moment, as Principal DeBoer said when he quoted an African proverb—”when you pray, move your feet”.
Vice President Vance—you have enormous authority, please use this moment to move your feet and transcend our political divides to promote peace, and unity and hope. This is what the people of the United states will hold you accountable to. This Annunciation Community is a force of good in the world and we invite you to be the same.
On the sidewalk in front of the boarded up windows of the church, someone wrote the prayer of St. Francis—which says:
- Make me an instrument of your peace.
- Where there is hatred, let me bring love
- Where there is injury, pardon
- Where there is despair, hope
- Where there is darkness, light
- And where there is sadness, only Joy.
That’s it. That’s all I wanted to say.
Harry Kaiser’s letter:
Mr. Vice President,
Thank you for coming to see Lydia. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for my kids to meet a vice president. And for the sake of Harper Moyski and Fletcher Merkel and Lydia and Sophia and all my students I couldn’t pass up the opportunity of having your ear for a moment. We disagree about so many things. We both know both sides, and all the talking points we fall back on.
But on just this one issue of gun violence will you please promise me as a father and a Catholic that you will earnestly support the study of what is wrong with our culture that we are the country that has the worst mass shooter problem? We were at Mass, singing about being called to act with justice, love, service and humility. Will you please promise to pursue, despite powerful lobbies, some common sense bipartisan legislation as a starting point, so we can come out of our corners and find the values that we share so that this time some progress is made? Thoughts and prayers haven’t been enough; many policies have been dismissed without even being studied or tried. It’s so complicated. I don’t claim to have the answers but we have to commit to looking. Then we can feel good about defending life. If one thing changes for the better, perhaps Fletcher’s and Harper’s deaths and all the injuries and destruction might bring about even more unity, love, and light than I have already seen this past week. One law, one executive order, one policy. You can call it the Annunciation Bill. Then I’ll be able to look Lydia and Sophia and all my students in the eye and say I tried.
Sincerely,
Harry Kaiser
A GoFundMe account says Lydia was hurt while protecting a younger student and was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
Lydia’s father shares a deep connection with the school, he’s Annunciation’s gym teacher.Vice President Vance recognizes the calls for change
“There’s a strong desire from across the political spectrum to do something so these shootings are less common,” the Vice President told reporters.
Before meeting with the Kaiser family, the Vice President and Second Lady, who are both catholic, laid flowers at the Annunciation Church memorial. Officials say the couple also visited its sanctuary where the shooting occurred and were met with protesters nearby. The visit continued with a private meeting with the parents of Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, who died in the attack.
“These parents opened up their lives, opened up their hearts. They told me about their kids. They told me about their families, they told me about the community supporting them,” said Vance.
As a father to three, he explained how he’ll honor the families.
“By being a better dad.. and hugging my kids tight tonight and making sure they know their dad loves them. Because there are two families that aren’t going to get that opportunity ever again,” Vance added.
You can watch the Kaiser’s full statements here.
Frankie McLister
Source link -
Students stage walkout at Minneapolis’ Gold Medal Park to demand change in gun laws
Students in Minneapolis on Wednesday did a walkout to demand a change in gun laws.
The grassroots effort from DeLaSalle High School drew about 100 students from five different high schools, who came to add action to their thoughts and prayers.
Many there had a connection to Annunciation Church and School. Some of them were graduates who felt they needed to do something.
“A lot of our students are alumni from Annunciation, so we have a close connection to the community. A lot of us live really close to where it happened, therefore we really think this is an important topic that we must speak out on,” Julia Jackson, a senior a DeLaSalle, said.
Student speakers say they believe something has to change that puts the lives of students over guns. They fear that they will be next.
“I think also just after the last incident at Annunciation, a lot of students, including ourselves, felt really restless about the situation,” Solveigh Bratulich, a senior at DeLaSalle, said. “And obviously we’ve heard a lot about thoughts and prayers, and thoughts and prayers not being enough, and it felt like we needed to do something.”
The students vowed to honor the lives of the two students who lost their lives in the church shooting with action.
Those who gathered Wednesday said it is not a left or right issue, it’s an issue of life and death.
Students went to the government center to make their voices heard by lawmakers, saying they are serious about a ban on assault weapons.
The protest happened shortly after Vice President JD Vance visited Annunciation Catholic Church to pay his respects to the victims.
In a separate protest, people gathered near the church during the vice presidential visit, many with signs, also calling for more common-sense gun restrictions.
In the days following the shooting, many community members and other elected officials, including Frey, have been calling for change.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz confirmed on Tuesday he wants a special session to vote on a gun control package that would include a ban on assault weapons.
Reg Chapman
Source link -
Twin Cities mayors call for ban on high-capacity gun magazines
In a press conference Wednesday afternoon, mayors from the metro called for gun reform. A ban on high-capacity magazines was just one of their requests.
“We’re asking for a ban on high-capacity magazines,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
It was a request for action from Frey and eight other surrounding city leaders.
“You shouldn’t have the ability to reel off 30 shots before you need to reload,” Frey added.
According to police, 116 casings from a semi-automatic rifle were collected at the scene of Annunciation Catholic Church. Investigators say the shots were fired in a matter of minutes, and that’s leading to calls for change.
It’s a push that’s already been enacted by 14 other states and Washington, D.C.
“Anytime you’re trying to enact firearm legislation it’s going to be an uphill battle,” said Dr. James Densley, who’s the co-founder for the Violence Prevention Project at Hamline University. Densley says his studies of mass shootings for the last decade show clear evidence.
“The data are actually pretty clear about this. High-capacity magazines, when they’re used, more people die and more people are injured,” Densley added.
But gun rights activists say the equipment isn’t the issue.
“The magazine capacity is irrelevant when you can carry as many firearms or as many magazines, you know, as you would like to, and it takes less than 2 seconds to swap them out,” said Robert Doar of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus.
Densley says a high-profile event like last week could lead to more support for reform, but Minnesota’s in the middle when it comes to firearms.
“It really comes down to how much motivation and how much momentum there is after a tragedy,” Densley told WCCO.
But in theory, questions upon questions remain.
“What happens with the ones already in existence? There’s tens of thousands in lawful hands in Minnesota,” Doar added.
“Unless there is legislation at the federal level, you’re still going to have the ability of people to cross borders,” said Densley.
Governor Walz says he intends to call a special session on guns.
Frankie McLister
Source link -
How does Minnesota’s red flag law work?
A mom who lost her son in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, 13 years ago, and is now the CEO of Sandy Hook Promise, says red flag laws can help save lives.
“We advocate for things like extreme risk protection orders which in time we’ll figure out if that could have been used here to help prevent this tragedy,” Nicole Hockley said.
Minnesota does have a red flag Law. It allows family, law enforcement or city and county attorneys to ask for an Extreme Risk Protection Order or ERPO. The law is designed to take guns out of the hands of people in a moment of crisis. They can petition the court to have a person’s guns removed or to temporarily prohibit someone from buying a gun for a period of time
In the first year of the law in Minnesota, which was 2024, 138 petitions were filed for people who were at risk of hurting themselves or someone else. A judge granted a petition to remove a gun or restrict the ability to buy one most of the time. It ranged from 14 days to one year. Some of those have been extended.
A family member, usually who lives in the same house, can file a petition. It can also be a parent or child. It extends to law enforcement and a county or city attorney. A family member can bring their concerns to law enforcement to have them do it. That’s the most common way a petition has been filed and approved.
In 2024, the first year someone could raise a red flag, we discovered 5 instances where a petition was filed on someone who threatened to shoot people at a school or daycare, or mentioned a school shooting or shooter. Some of the threats were in person, others caught online. In these cases, we found they were all filed by police or a county attorney’s office. An ERPO was granted for the longest allowed time: one year.
One has been extended a year. In two of the cases, criminal charges were brought, and both people were convicted of threats of violence. One person was civilly committed following the petition.
Lawmakers say the goal of the red flag law is to save lives. Experts in this area say they believe this law is saving lives. Earlier this year, we spoke with Dr. Jillian Peterson, director of the Violence Prevention Project Research Center.
“There’s so many warning signs, especially if we look at school shooters. 91% of the time they tell somebody that they’re planning on doing it. And so people know this, but it’s not a crime to say you’re thinking about doing something. And so law enforcement’s hands are tied in a lot of these cases,” said Peterson. “So I think having a resource to get firearms away from that person just in that moment of crisis. And we know you should not have immediate access to firearms in that moment. 100% I think it has the ability to save lives.”
If someone is in immediate danger, experts say to call 911.
Here are resources to learn more about Minnesota’s red flag law.
Jennifer Mayerle
Source link -
Federal judge rejects challenge to handgun restrictions
BOSTON — A federal judge has upheld the state’s ban on the sale of certain types of handguns following a legal challenge by gun rights groups that vow to repeal the ruling.
In a decision issued Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper rejected claims in a lawsuit filed by the owners of Gunrunners LLC and the Delaware-based Firearms Policy Coalition alleging that the restrictions violate the Second Amendment and are “inconsistent” with the nation’s history of firearm regulation.
kAm{2HJ6CD 7@C E96 A=2:?E:77D E@@< 2:> 2E E96 DE2E6’D 32? @? 46CE2:? EJA6D @7 92?58F?D[ 2C8F:?8 :E 😀 F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 32D65 @? E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE’D =2?5>2C< a_aa CF=:?8 😕 }6H *@C< $E2E6 #:7=6 2?5 !:DE@= pDD@4:2E:@? G] qCF6?[ H9:49 96=5 E96C6 😀 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= C:89E E@ 42CCJ 2 92?58F? @FED:56 E96 9@>6 7@C D6=75676?D6]k^Am
kAm“x? 5:C64E 567:2?46 @7 E9:D AC64656?E[ |2DD249FD6EED 92D 4=@D65 :ED 3@C56CD E@ =2C86 A@CE:@?D @7 E96 >@56C? 92?58F? >2C<6E[ 32??:?8 2D “F?D276” >2?J @7 E96 7:C62C>D E92E 2C6 >@DE ECFDE65 3J E96 p>6C:42? A6@A=6 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ DF3DE:EFE:?8 :ED ;F58>6?E 7@C E96:CD[” E96 A=2:?E:77D HC@E6 😕 4@FCE 7:=:?8D]k^Am
kAmqFE r2DA6C C6;64E65 E9@D6 2C8F>6?ED[ 2C8F:?8 E92E E96 DE2E6’D C68F=2E:@?D C6BF:C6 92?58F?D D@=5 3J C6E2:=6CD E@ 92G6 2 “>6492?:D> H9:49 67764E:G6=J AC64=F56D 2? 2G6C286 7:G6 J62C @=5 49:=5 7C@> @A6C2E:?8 E96 92?58F? H96? :E 😀 C625J E@ 7:C6]”k^Am
kAm“%96 AFCA@D6 7@C E96 C68F=2E:@?D 😀 “C6=2E:G6=J D:>:=2C” E@ E92E @7 E96 9:DE@C:42= 6G:56?46[ H9:49 H2D E@ AC6G6?E 49:=5C6? 7C@> 244:56?E2==J 5:D492C8:?8 2 7:C62C> 8:G6? E96:C 23:=:EJ E@ 92?5=6 2?5 @A6C2E6 E96 7:C62C>[” r2DA6C HC@E6]k^Am
kAm|2DD249FD6EED 92D D@>6 @7 E96 E@F896DE 7:C62C> C68F=2E:@?D 😕 E96 ?2E:@? 2?5 AC@9:3:ED 2?J@?6 `g J62CD @=5 @C J@F?86C 7C@> AFC492D:?8 2 7:C62C> @C 2>>F?:E:@?[ H9:=6 C6D:56?ED F?56C a` 42??@E 3FJ 2 92?58F?[ D6>:2FE@>2E:4 C:7=6 @C D9@E8F?[ @C =2C8642A24:EJ H62A@?]k^Am
kAm&?56C DE2E6 C68F=2E:@?D[ 92?58F?D D@=5 3J 562=6CD >FDE A2DD 2 >2<6 2?5 >@56= A6C7@C>2?46 E6DE AC@G:?8 E96J 2C6 ?@E AC@?6 E@ C6A62E65 7:C:?8 7C@> 2 D:?8=6 EC:886C AF==[ 6IA=@D:@? FA@? 7:C:?8 H:E9 DE2?52C5 2>>F?:E:@?[ @C 244:56?E2= 5:D492C86] %96 DE2E6 92D 2 C@DE6C @7 92?58F?D 2AAC@G65 7@C D2=6]k^Am
kAmvF? 4@?EC@= 25G@42E6D 2C8F6 E96 DE2E6’D DEC:4E C6BF:C6>6?ED – :?4=F5:?8 C62=E:>6 =:46?D6 4964
D]k^Am kAmqFE $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E 8C@FAD 92G6 =@?8 2C8F65 E92E E96 E@F896C 8F? 4@?EC@= =2HD 2C6 F??646DD2CJ 2?5 AF?:D9 =2H23:5:?8 8F? @H?6CD H9:=6 D:56DE6AA:?8 E96 :DDF6 @7 :==682= 7:C62C>D] %96 DE2E6’D 7:C62C> =:46?D:?8 AC@46DD 92D =@?8 366? 2 E2C86E 7@C 8F? C:89ED 8C@FAD]k^Am
kAmpEE@C?6J v6?6C2= p?5C62 r2>A36==[ H9@ H2D ?2>65 2D 2 5676?52?E 😕 E96 =2HDF:E[ D2:5 E96 CF=:?8 4@?7:C>D E92E “|2DD249FD6EED 92D E96 DEC@?86DE 8F? D276EJ =2HD 😕 E96 4@F?ECJ E92E 2C6 6?7@C465 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 AF3=:4 D276EJ 2?5 E96 $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E]”k^Am
kAm“%9:D 564:D:@? E@ FA9@=5 |2DD249FD6EED 92?58F? D276EJ C68F=2E:@?D 😀 2 D:8?:7:42?E H:? E92E H:== AC@E64E E96 AF3=:4 2?5 4@?E:?F6 |2DD249FD6EED’ =6256CD9:A @? 8F? G:@=6?46 AC6G6?E:@?[” E96 s6>@4C2E D2:5 😕 2 DE2E6>6?E]k^Am
kAmqFE qC2?5@? r@>3D[ u!r’D AC6D:56?E[ 4C:E:4:K65 r2DA6C’D CF=:?8 2D “3:K2CC6 2?5 566A=J 7=2H65” 2?5 D2:5 E96 A=2:?E:77D H:== 2AA62= E96 564:D:@?]k^Am
kAm“%9:D 564:D:@? 😀 23DFC5[ =2H=6DD[ 2?5 :>A@DD:3=6 E@ C64@?4:=6 H:E9 3:?5:?8 $FAC6>6 r@FCE AC64656?E @C E96 E6IE 2?5 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?[” 96 D2:5 😕 2 DE2E6>6?E] “|2<6 ?@ >:DE2<6i u!r H:== 2AA62= E9:D :?D2?6 CF=:?8 2?5 H6 H:== 7:89E F?E:= E9:D F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 32? 😀 DECF4< 5@H? – H92E6G6C :E E2<6D[ 7@C 2D =@?8 2D :E E2<6D]”k^Am
kAmk6>mr9C:DE:2? |] (256 4@G6CD E96 |2DD249FD6EED $E2E69@FD6 7@C }@CE9 @7 q@DE@? |65:2 vC@FAUCDBF@jD ?6HDA2A6CD 2?5 H63D:E6D] t>2:= 9:> 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i4H256o4?9:?6HD]4@>Qm4H256o4?9:?6HD]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^Am
By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter
Source link -
Twin Cities mayors call for changes to state gun laws after Annunciation shooting
Mayors from the Twin Cities area are calling for lawmakers address gun violence in the state and change a law that prohibits cities from passing their own gun reforms.
The call to action comes less than a week after the mass shooting at a Minneapolis church that killed two children and injured 21 others.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter were joined by the mayors of Bloomington, Stillwater, Vadnais Heights, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Richfield and Columbia Heights. During the press conference Tuesday afternoon, they were also backed by the advocacy group Moms Demand Action.
“We don’t want to be the next mayor to say ‘this should never happen in our city,’” Frey said. “The answers, the solutions, they’re not new. They’re very clear.”
The group pushed for a statewide and federal ban on assault weapons as well as a ban on high capacity magazines.
The paraphernalia was “built and designed to kill people. Not built and designed to hunt deer,” Frey said, adding that “there is no reason to have this kind of machinery in our cities.”
The mayors also asked for state and federal officials to change a law that prohibits virtually any kind of gun reform in municipalities.
“If state and federal officials are either unwilling or unable to make the necessary change, give us, as mayors of these cities the ability to do it ourselves,” Frey said.
Gov. Tim Walz confirmed Tuesday that he is talking to legislators about a potential special session to address gun violence. It would bring lawmakers back to the Capitol earlier than the start of the regular session in February.
Walz said he plans to put out a proposal “in the next day or so that I think is very comprehensive, it’s been done in other places, it’s been done without infringements on people’s Second Amendment rights, but it has proven that it will help protect our students.”
This story will be updated.
Aki Nace
Source link -
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz confirms he’s considering special session on guns after Annunciation shooting
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday confirmed he is talking to legislators about a potential special session to address gun violence after a mass shooting at a Minneapolis church.
“The sad reality of it is is that what happened last week is preventable, because so many nations around the world do it,” Walz said while attending the first day of school at Deerwood Elementary in Eagan. “And we cannot resign ourselves to believe that our little ones can’t be safe in what should be and always is the most safe environments they can possibly be in.”
A shooter firing through the windows of Annunciation Catholic Church during a school Mass killed two children and injured 21 other people — most of them also kids — on Wednesday morning. Since then, parents, community members and other elected officials have called for change.
The focus of the special session would be on additional gun-related measures. It would bring lawmakers back to the Capitol earlier than the start of the regular session in February. Walz said he plans to put out a proposal “in the next day or so that I think is very comprehensive, it’s been done in other places, it’s been done without infringements on people’s Second Amendment rights, but it has proven that it will help protect our students.”
“I am not going to allow anyone to try and make the case that the United States is unique in either mental health issues or other things,” he said. “The things that make America unique in terms of shootings is we just have more guns and the wrong kinds of guns that are on the streets.”
Walz acknowledged that the split Legislature would make passing gun laws difficult. Though Minnesota passed enhanced background checks and red flag laws in 2023, more recent efforts have failed in the divided Legislature.
“I have made the case and I am calling through legislators to try and make sure they get there, because I can call a special session, I can’t run a special session,” Walz said. “And to be very candid, just in a very evenly divided — I’m going to need some Republicans to break with the orthodoxy and say that we need to do something on guns, and that’s the opportunity right now.”
A senior administrative official told WCCO last week Walz was considering a special session on gun control as early as this month. GOP House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson both said at the time that Walz had not spoken to them about a special session.
“As we work through this tragedy, we need to lead with grace and cooperation, not political rallies and vitriol. I look forward to the coming conversations on how we can most effectively address the evil we saw this week perpetrated against the most vulnerable among us,” Demuth said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for a ban on assault weapons after the Annunciation shooting. In response to Frey’s comments, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus said it “opposes any ban on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and standard-capacity magazines. Such proposals are unconstitutional and do nothing to reduce crime.”
Typically, only the governor can call a special session, though the Legislature can set its length.
“If Minnesota lets this moment slide and we determine that it’s OK for little ones not to be safe in a school environment or a church environment, then shame on us,” Walz said.
contributed to this report.
Anthony Bettin
Source link