Special Session Update on Gun Violence Prevention Proposals

Dear Neighbors –

In the aftermath of the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School, our community continues to show incredible strength, resilience, and unity. Even in the midst of our grief, I’ve heard from so many of you, and also from people across the state, who are making your voices heard to demand that we take action to prevent future tragedies and get these weapons of war off our streets. 

We must act with urgency and I fully support a special session to get these weapons of war out of our communities. I am helping lead the fight to keep our kids and communities safe by banning semi-automatic military style assault weapons and high capacity magazines. Minnesotans deserve to be safe from gun violence.

Last week, DFLers released an offer on a special session: Ban assault weapons. Ban high-capacity magazines. Ban binary triggers. Implement safe storage rules. Ban untraceable 'ghost guns’. Strengthen Minnesota’s red flag law. We also are ready to move forward on issues like mental health funding and school safety measures–as long as they are paired with measures to ban these weapons of war.

This is a common sense proposal that includes House Republican proposals as well as DFL measures, but Republican leaders refused to sign it. They will do anything and everything but talk about the guns that are hurting our communities. There are 100 Republicans in the Minnesota legislature, and it only takes one to stand up to the gun lobby and act to protect our communities, but they’ve stayed silent. Leader Niska even told reporters that he didn’t think they had a single vote for any of the common sense, publicly supported gun policies. 

The public is clear and so am I -- these weapons built for war should not be on our streets. Recent polling shows that 60% of Minnesota voters believe the legislature should take immediate action to ban assault weapons, with majorities across the political spectrum supporting stronger gun safety laws.

The DFL caucus is listening to Minnesotans, and we’re ready to do what people around the state are asking us to do. While the gun lobby continues to oppose each and every common sense gun law that will save lives and protect people, it’s clear that the public wants us to take action on gun safety and prioritize kids and not the profits of the gun industry.

Gun Violence Prevention Community Conversation

I hope you’ll join us for our Community Conversation in South Minneapolis this Thursday, October 9, from 5:30-7pm, focused on gun violence prevention. We will be joined for a conversation with community leaders, gun violence prevention advocates, and medical professionals who will share their perspective on the epidemic of gun violence in our country and the changes we need to make. We’ll also have space for your questions and ideas about taking policy and community responses to prevent gun violence.

The event is open to constituents and our South Minneapolis community and requires you to RSVP using this link. We will send the South Minneapolis location information in advance of the event to those who RSVP. 

I’m so grateful for our active and engaged community, who have been speaking up to end the epidemic of gun violence–it’s going to take all of us. I hope you’ll join us for our community conversation and continue to make your voice heard on the importance of taking action and saving lives. 

If you aren’t able to make it, or have friends, family, and community around the state who want to make their voice heard, please fill out this form collecting the stories of Minnesotans impacted by gun violence. Together, we can ensure Minnesotans’ voices are heard as we push for stronger laws.

Gun Violence Prevention Policy

During the trifecta in 2023, DFLers took bold action on gun violence, passing universal background checks and red flag laws as well as numerous steps to strengthen mental health and address school safety. A recent Star Tribune story highlighted how our Red Flag law is working to prevent possibly dangerous scenarios from turning violent. It also showed that we have more work to do educating the public about how they can use this law to keep their communities safe, and providing law enforcement with the resources they need to follow up effectively on reports.

DFLers are prepared to do more, but right now, the open question is to GOP lawmakers: are you willing to meet the moment and work with us to take strong action on gun violence, or will you continue standing in the way of saving lives? 

The fact is that our proposals would make our communities safer. Access to high-powered weapons is all too easy, and we have to take bolder steps to prevent future tragedies. 

More than 85% of fatalities from mass shootings are caused by assault rifles. In fact, these weapons were previously banned in the U.S., and a 2021 study found that the federal prohibition on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines was associated with a significant decrease in public mass shootings and related casualties. It's time for state and federal policymakers to demonstrate the political will to take the actions necessary to get these types of guns off our streets.

We can also take action to ban high-capacity magazines that further enable these tragedies to impact more people. From 2009 to 2022, the 10 mass shooting incidents with the most casualties all involved the use of at least one firearm equipped with a high-capacity magazine. Research shows that states with restrictions on magazine size experience mass shootings at less than half the rate of states without restrictions.

Republicans need to decide if they’re going to choose people or weapons of war. House DFLers are firmly committed to taking meaningful action to address gun violence, including banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

At the very least, If Republicans refuse to stand with the Minnesotans demanding change, they should all have the courage to say so outright. Minnesotans are tired of politicians standing with the gun lobby instead of being willing to take common-sense action to keep communities safe. 

I’m in this fight for the long haul, and to deliver actual change, not just score political points. But with our current tie in the House, Democrats can’t go it alone and so far Republicans have failed to negotiate in good faith. For a special session to have the meaningful outcomes Minnesotans want, Republicans have to come to the table for a serious conversation about guns. 

Stay in Touch

Thank you for your time, energy, and all you do to make our community a great place to live, work, and play. Always feel free to reach out to me with your input and ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. My email is rep.emma.greenman@house.mn.gov or you are always welcome to call me at the Capitol at 651-296-4200 and follow my Facebook page for updates.

It’s an honor and a privilege to be your State Representative. I'm very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together and look forward to the work we have ahead of us. Together, we can create a stronger, brighter future for all Minnesotans!  

Best, 

Emma Greenman
State Representative