Students, parents rally at Capitol after deadly school shooting to call for gun restrictions
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More than 100 people gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol Monday, demanding stricter gun laws in the wake of a deadly school shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis.
The shooting killed 10-year-old Harper Moyski and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and injured 21 others — including 18 students between the ages of 6 and 15. Three adults were also injured.
Police say the shooter fired more than 100 bullets during the attack.
Students and parents who attended Monday’s rally called for a ban on so-called assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that can allow a person to fire dozens of bullets before reloading.
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Maddie Risk is a 16-year-old junior at Eagan High School.
“It is what we need to make sure that schools can be safe for kids like me all around Minnesota and all around the United States,” Risk said. “We need to be able to ensure that these things aren't happening anymore — school shootings aren't happening anymore.”
At the Capitol, people showed up carrying signs that read “ban assault weapons” and “let’s bury guns not children.” Some in the crowd were visibly emotional as they called for change, joined by several advocacy groups and student-led organizations pressing lawmakers to act.
A similar rally was also held at the Lake Harriet bandshell, where more than 100 people gathered to remember the victims and demand action on gun violence.
Rob Doar, senior vice president of government affairs for the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, argues that banning certain firearms would not address the root of the problem.
“In Minnesota, there are already tens of thousands of AR-style rifles and accessories in lawful hands, and there’s no viable way to address that reality through a ban,” Doar said. “Instead of treating this issue like a political football in an election year, we can focus on solutions that research shows work: strengthening mental health resources, broadening community support systems, providing schools with discreet layered security, and denying perpetrators the notoriety they seek. Those steps would have real impact and can earn broad bipartisan, even unanimous, support.”
Organizers of Monday’s rally say the tragedy underscores what they call the urgent need for reform, and they’re pressing state lawmakers to take up new gun restrictions during the next session.
“Young people are tired of being afraid in our schools,” said Aaliyah Murray, founder of Minnesota Teen Activists. “We do know that mental health has a lot to do with why school shootings happen, but we do know if people don't have access to high assault weapons, that these would not be happening.”
Three Twin Cities area mayors will be at the Capitol on Tuesday to call for stricter gun laws and to support a proposal that would allow cities to pass their own gun reforms.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston all support a statewide ban on assault weapons and on high-capacity magazines.
The mayors also want legislators to overturn a current state statute that prohibits cities from making their own gun ordinances.
