Annunciation parents testify as Minnesota senators look at gun control proposals

A tear-filled hearing at the Minnesota Senate on Monday morning offered a glimpse at rule that could move out of a special session on guns The Senate s Gun Violence Prevention Working group met for the first time on Monday joined by parents and region members impacted by the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting that killed two and injured others on Aug One of those parents present was Carla Maldonado whose children survived the shooting We got to hug them after school that day but they are not the same kids that I dropped off that morning she announced They have nightmares They flinch at loud noises They don t want to be alone Maldonado implored lawmakers to pass an assault weapons ban the bill at the forefront of the proposals Monday introduced by Sen Zaynab Mohamed DFL-Minneapolis who represents the Annunciation locality Mohamed s bill would ban large-capacity magazines and semiautomatic military assault weapons with exceptions for military and law enforcement members who use them for work Malia Kimbrell mother of -year-old Vivian St Clair who was shot three times at Annunciation also testified Monday She was one of the first Annunciation parents to call for such a ban on Sept a week after the shooting What if the best option available was a Remington hunting rifle that fires less than bullets a minute Which option gives your child a greater likelihood of survival which option Which option would save countless lives she mentioned during Monday s hearing You have the power to decide what the next mass shooter will or will not be armed with Other Democratic proposals to come out of the hearing include a re-enactment of the state s binary trigger ban that was struck down on Aug by a district court a requirement for serial numbers on guns safe storage requirements gun safety training and the creation of a civil commitment division in the Attorney General s Office Sen Rich Draheim R-Madison Lake stated he would like the discussion to broaden in scope beyond guns I know this working group is targeted towards the gun violence he reported In my perspective it s about how do we protect our children and what can we do to not have another happening like we just had I think we need to expand what we re going to do and maybe spend a little more time on the mental wellness and the school portion Rob Doar senior vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus stated he s hoping the special session s focus is things that will certainly make a difference Rob Doar senior vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus discusses gun control Monday Sept at the Senate s Gun Violence Prevention Working Group hearing in St Paul Sen Zaynab Mohamed DFL-Minneapolis is at left Mary Murphy Forum News Institution Even if all of these bills became law that are being proposed in the modern day there s no indication that that would have prevented this shooting he disclosed Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O Hara declared law enforcement recovered three shotgun shells approximately rifle rounds and one live round from a handgun from the scene at Annunciation O Hara disclosed all three weapons used in the shooting were purchased legally and in recent months and there was nothing on record that would have prevented the suspected shooter from purchasing a gun It s unclear whether the Legislature has the votes to pass new gun control measures such as an assault weapons ban The DFL trifecta failed to do so in but Gov Tim Walz reported he will call a special session regardless of whether the votes are there Related Articles St Paul to require its legislative request list by early days of session Minneapolis suburb s candidates campaign amid fear and violence after political assassinations Republican Tad Jude will run for Minnesota secretary of state next year Charlie Kirk Michael Knowles Sept event at U still listed on schedule Tim Walz sends strong signal he ll run for third term as governor Walz s Democrat colleagues agreed with that approach on Monday Sen Ron Latz DFL-St Louis Park commented he s hoping we can get the votes I think there s a value to our constituents knowing where we are on these issues he stated Walz and legislative leaders were set to meet privately Monday night to discuss a special session on guns and its scope He isn t expected to officially call the special session until after a special balloting Tuesday to fill Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman s seat in Brooklyn Park which is likely to return the Minnesota House to a tie