With Annunciation families at the Capitol, Democrats unveil gun violence prevention bills
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Gun violence survivors, families of people who have been killed by guns and advocates for gun safety measures packed into the governor’s reception room on Tuesday morning to push for a package of DFL-authored bills focused on preventing school shootings and other gun violence.
Among them was Lydia Kaiser, an eighth grader at Annunciation Catholic Church and School.
“On Aug. 27 I was in church attending the first school mass of the year when a gunman fired 116 rounds of bullets through the stained glass windows,” she said. “Two students were shot and killed. Two students survived gunshot injuries to the head. I am one of them.”
Lydia joined peers and other Annunciation community members at the state Capitol to advocate for restrictions on guns.
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“All children have the right to live free from gun violence in schools, churches and in our communities,” she said. “Elected officials have a duty to protect us from guns. No one should have to go through what we went through at Annunciation.”
Hours later, the proposals stalled.
The House Committee on Public Safety voted 10-10 along party lines on the bills that would ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. That means the proposals are at a standstill.
Jackie Flavin's daughter, Harper Moyski, was killed in the shooting. She had urged the committee to push the bills forward.
"Why am I here today?” Flavin said to the lawmakers on the committee. “Because I don't want this story to become yours. I don't want you to hear the cries that we've had to hear."
Gun rights organizations say the measures are likely unconstitutional. Rob Doar, president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center, said they would invite legal challenge if enacted.
"Ordinary people should not be criminalized for owning ordinary things, and the Supreme Court has repeatedly agreed that these arms, these accessories, are in common use, and things that are in common use are protected by the Second Amendment."
Democratic lawmakers described the broader package of 15 proposals, which also include a ban on ghost guns — those built through kits or parts rather than purchased fully manufactured firearms. Among the other firearm-related proposals are bills that would: require reporting of lost or stolen firearms; re-pass the binary trigger ban, which was put on hold by the courts; and require the safe storage of firearms.
The package also includes more mental health support funding and better threat assessment at the state level.
Republicans also have proposals aimed at increasing funding for school safety programs at both public and private schools, increasing mental health support and increasing penalties for firearm-related crimes. Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth and GOP Caucus Leader Harry Niska said they were glad to see more specifics from the governor’s office but voiced skepticism about some of the bills having enough support to pass the narrowly-split Legislature.
"Today we heard multiple House Democrats say they could not support an unconstitutional bill, so it appears his bans are off the table even for Democrats,” they said in a press release. “We're glad the governor finally acknowledges that addressing mental health, early intervention, and making our schools safe for students will help prevent violence, and we look forward to working together on bills that keep people safe and protect our constitutional rights."
Any legislation would need bipartisan support to pass. So far, Republicans have not voiced support for restrictions on guns.
DFL Gov. Tim Walz encouraged people to take action. He said the trauma the state has experienced over the last several months could move lawmakers to change their minds.
“As Minnesotans, the pain of each and every one of these stories can't numb us and as elected officials,” Walz said. “What I'm telling Republicans is, ‘I am more than happy to hear their ideas.’ What I'm not going to hear is, is ‘We can't do this.’”
