We can disagree a lot at the State Capitol, which makes unifying events like the Iftar all the more important. Gun Violence Prevention Firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the United States - a horrifying fact I’m reminded of every day as I walk into the Capitol, where dozens of school desks are lined up on the lawn. These desks represent the over 200 Minnesota school children killed by gun violence since 2021. Inside the building there are two more desks. These belonged to 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, who were killed last August in the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. While we’ve made progress in recent years, including Minnesota’s Red Flag Law and additional background checks that I helped pass into law, more clearly needs to be done to protect Minnesotans from gun violence. In the House Public Safety Committee, students and parents from Annunciation came to advocate for gun safety bills, specifically a ban on semiautomatic military-style assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines. The committee heard from Harper’s mom, Jackie Flavin. I highly encourage you to listen to her testimony. It’s heartbreaking, but important. We can’t look away when it comes to fighting for the safety of our kids. |