Minnesota Now with Nina Moini

Political, church leaders consider next steps one week after Annunciation mass shooting

Vance
Vice President JD Vance and his wife second lady Usha Vance, walk to board Air Force Two at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, en route to Minneapolis, to pay respects to victims of the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting.
Alex Wroblewsk | AP

It's been one week since a shooter fired through the windows of Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis during an all-school mass. Two children were killed and 21 others were injured. As of yesterday, four victims remain hospitalized.

Vice President JD Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, are in Minneapolis to visit Annunciation, meet privately with families and convey their condolences.

MPR News senior politics reporter Clay Masters was on the scene at Annunciation Wednesday morning waiting for the Vances to arrive.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has been helping school and parish leaders as they pick up the pieces after the shooting. Archbishop Bernard Hebda has been meeting regularly with victims and families at area hospitals. He shared the steps that will need to be taken before mass can be held again in the sanctuary.

The impact of the shooting has sent ripples through local and national political spheres and reignited calls for gun reform. On Tuesday, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar led a moment of silence on the U.S. House floor to mourn the victims of the Annunciation shooting, which took place in her district.

At the local level, Twin Cities area mayors are calling for the state to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. If the Legislature does not pass a ban, mayors are asking for the authority to ban these weapons at the municipal level, which would also require a change in state law.

Gov. Tim Walz could soon call a special session in the aftermath of the mass shooting. There are few indications that political differences over gun restrictions have eased and sweeping changes are near. Still, MPR News senior politics reporter Dana Ferguson reports that lawmakers could come together around funding for mental health and school fortification.

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