Minnesota's effort to grapple with gun violence has taken a step forward with the state Senate's Working Group on Gun Violence Prevention convening for their second meeting. The bipartisan group, which includes six DFL senators and five Republicans, met Wednesday to deliberate over legislation aimed at curtailing gun violence. According to Senate DFL Minnesota, the meeting did not result in any formal votes but instead focused on finding a common ground on various proposals.
Among the proposals on the table were measures to ban assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and binary triggers, which are used to significantly increase a gun's firing rate. The group also considered the prohibition of so-called "ghost guns," unregulated firearms lacking serial numbers, and weighed the potential of empowering local governments to restrict firearms on public property. Moreover, they discussed creating a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention and imposing mandatory gun safety training for gun owners. They took to also discuss funding awareness campaigns for Extreme Risk Protection Orders, an initiative designed to temporarily restrict access to firearms for individuals deemed a threat.
In the wake of the discussions, Senator Liz Boldon (DFL-Rochester) reflected on the urgency of the issue, especially in light of recent tragic events. "If this summer has taught us anything, it’s that we need to take further action on gun violence prevention in our state," Boldon stated, highlighting the emotional testimonies heard from those affected by the Annunciation shooting. "Minnesotans are sick and tired of grieving the loss of their friends, family and neighbors," she added, underscoring the collective trauma and calling for palpable action.
Senator Boldon was clear in her critique of the opposition. "I am disappointed in my Republican colleagues for their unwillingness to address the root of our gun violence epidemic: the easy availability and accessibility of guns," she was quoted as saying in a statement. She argued that while other countries face mental health challenges, they do not experience gun death at the scale seen in the United States. With a focus on the stories from those impacted by the shooting at Annunciation, Boldon echoed a sentiment that aligns with a majority of Minnesotans: "we need to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines."
As Minnesotans and legislators continue to grapple with these complex issues, eyes will remain on the Senate's Working Group for any movement towards consensus and legislative action. The full details of their proposals and more from the September 17 meeting can be found through the provided Senate DFL Minnesota link.
