MN shooting victim: More background checks
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The mayor of Minneapolis and a man injured in the September mass shooting in town are calling on Minnesota Rep. Erik Paulsen to help pass a bill requiring background checks on all gun sales.
John Souter Thursday morning joined Mayor R.T. Rybak in Minnetonka, part of Paulsen's district, to urge the Republican congressman to vote for universal background checks in Congress.
A spokesman for Paulsen did not return a request Wednesday for comment on his stance.
Expanding background checks to nearly all gun sales are at the heart of a push in the Senate to tighten federal firearm legislation. The debate has not yet hit the Republican-controlled House.
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Souter was injured in the Sept. 27 shooting at Accent Signage Systems, in which five people were killed. Souter says one of the bullets that struck him passed through one of his lungs and crushed numerous ribs. He said he still suffers from pain caused by his wounds.
Souter said it does not make sense to him that on a Sunday afternoon, a person can buy a semi-automatic rifle at a gun show without a background check.
"Yet, that same Sunday afternoon you could not go to your local supermarket and buy a bottle of wine," Souter said. "Are we serious?"
MPR's Brandt Williams contributed to this story.
