Minnesota’s Senate narrowly approved new restrictions on assault-style weapons and high capacity magazines Monday, a response to tragic shootings in schools and other settings. The proposal remains stuck in the tied House.
There were tears and tense exchanges ahead of the 34-33 party-line vote, with all DFLers in favor and all Republicans opposed.
The measure contains other school safety initiatives and comes months after a fatal shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis. Lawmakers in the divided Legislature have said school safety is a top priority this session but have disagreed about the best path forward.
Family members of children shot during the Annunciation shooting looked down on the senators from the Senate gallery and lawmakers frequently mentioned them in their speeches. They applauded after the vote.
Parents said they were glad to see the Senate move the bill and hopeful about its prospects moving forward.
“This conversation is an important one, and we have to keep having it,” Kristen Neville said. “It's got to be an ongoing one, and we understand that this is a long road, and we're going to keep up with that. And our hope is that the rest of Minnesota also sees that too.”
DFL lawmakers say its important to tackle many things that contribute to gun violence.
“This legislation is comprehensive and doesn't compromise on our values. Students and parents do not want us to choose between banning weapons of war and investing in schools. This isn't either, or. We need both,” said Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, DFL-Minneapolis, who sponsored the bill.
The House, where there is a 67-67 split, has not advanced companion bills.
Families affected by gun violence, physicians who treat patients with gun-related injuries and advocates for more restrictions on firearms spoke in support of the proposal Monday morning.
“Every year, I’ve been pounding pavements trying to stop gun violence, start trying to stop other kids from losing their lives, because I don't want no other parent to feel the pain that I feel on a daily basis," said Kiwanis Vilella, whose 13-year-old son was killed in an act of gun violence.
The proposal would prohibit firearms dealers from selling assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines, though non dealers could continue selling them as long as they follow existing firearm sale and transfer laws. Owners would have to certify the assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines they already have with the state. The bill would also make it a felony to sell or transfer ghost guns — those without a serial number.
Dr. Rachel Weigert, a pediatric emergency room physician at Children’s Minnesota who treated children injured during the shooting at Annunciation, said the changes are needed.
“As a doctor, I'm supposed to train and prepare for the worst, not kids, not educators and not parents,” Weigert said. “Since that day, a chorus of kids, educators, parents and medical professionals have been begging the legislature to take a vote on policy changes like the Senate will do today. I'm glad we're finally here, and yet there is still so much to do.”
It includes provisions dealing with school safety provisions including more funding for mental health services and school safety grants, and to anonymous threat reporting systems. The House has deadlocked over provisions of a school safety proposal. Republicans have said they won’t support firearm restrictions as part of a compromise bill.
Democrats from swing districts said they were conflicted about the proposal but ultimately supported it saying lawmakers need to take some action.
Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, said he realized he couldn’t vote against the bill because he had cousins at Annunciation. And he says he didn’t want to have another conversation with his kids explaining another shooting in Minnesota.
“I refuse to have another conversation with my kids if I don't do something more,” Hauschild said, fighting back tears. “I refuse it because I can't look them in the eye and not do something.”
DFLers in the Senate had already taken votes on gun laws — background checks, revocation orders and trigger devices — since their last election so some in competitive districts will face campaign pushback regardless of how they vote on these.
Gun rights organizations have said the bill would unfairly infringe on gun owners’ rights.
“These firearms and these magazines, are owned by hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans for a multitude of reasons, whether it's self defense or hunting or sports shooting, and they're clearly protected by the Second Amendment and the Minnesota Constitution,” Anna Leamy, director of government relations and advocacy at the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, said on MPR’s Minnesota Now.
“This is not going to do anything to stop the criminals who are already ignoring Minnesota's gun laws and so many of their other laws,” Leamy continued.
On the Senate floor, Republicans attempted to strip provisions dealing with firearm restrictions but those efforts failed.
Republicans in swing districts voted against the measure and said partisanship was getting in the way of real solutions.
“It is with every fiber of my being that I wish what we are doing here today was the answer,” Coleman said. “I wish that this bill could wave a magic wand and keep our students safe the moment it passed, but it won't.”
Republicans also openly doubted the actions would prevent more gun violence.
“We need to pursue truth, truth is that guns don't kill people,” said Sen. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa. “Bad people kill people, whether they use guns or knives or cars or poisons or any other method that they wanted to use, the sinister and evil that come from people who are sometimes possessed.”
Others spoke about the bill taking away "God-given rights" to access to firearms.
Mike Moyski, whose 10-year-old daughter Harper was killed at the Annunciation shooting, responded after the vote.
“It’s also a God-given right for a nine year old and a 10 year old to live beyond that age, right?” Moyski said. “So let's get serious when we're talking about God-given rights, especially in this topic.”
Democrats said if Republicans block the measure from advancing this year, it will be a key campaign focus. All 201 legislative seats are on the ballot in November.
“People are wondering where people stand,” said Rep. Emma Greenman, DFL-Minneapolis. “I hope that that pressure works, and if the pressure does not work under the dome in the next two weeks, it certainly will be there as we all face our voters and they ask us what we've done on this issue.”
Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke to two people on both sides of the issue. Listen to the conversation using the audio player above.