Dear Neighbors,
In the wake of the Annunciation shooting, conversations began at the state capitol over whether a special session addressing gun violence would be possible this fall. Make no mistake, I believe gun violence is an issue that should be addressed as soon as possible, but a narrowly divided state legislature makes that easier said than done.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge the horrific assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk. I have always and will always condemn political violence of any sort. We must be able to disagree - vehemently, even - in an environment devoid of violence. Anything less than this standard degrades civil society and makes all of us less safe. My heart goes out to the Kirk family and to all the students who witnessed that terrible event.
Mr. Kirk's passing was rightfully a huge news story, but I also want to take another moment to acknowledge yet another school shooting in our country that occurred on the same day, this one in Colorado.
Whether it’s the political violence that claimed Charlie Kirk’s life and upended our world in Minnesota with the assassination of the Hortmans and attack on the Hoffmans, or the far too frequent school shootings, the common denominator is gun violence.
I have received hundreds upon hundreds of emails, demanding action on gun violence. There is great urgency to not just let the tragedy at Annunciation be one more in the long string. I feel that same urgency. While the Governor solely has the power to call a Special Session, the Legislature has the authority to set the agenda and decide when that work is done. To effectively hold a special session on gun violence, it would take some bipartisan buy-in.
Negotiations to that end continue, but whether it’s this fall, or when we return for the 2026 Legislative Session in February, addressing gun violence will be top of mind for me - and I want to hear from you.
Gun violence touches us all in many ways, whether you’ve been a direct victim, love someone who has, or even struggle to explain the latest tragedy to your young children, there’s no shortage of ways our lives have been upended. If you’ll permit me, I’d like to share your stories when we discuss this topic on the House Floor or in Committee.
If you’ve been impacted by gun violence in any way, and would be comfortable with me sharing your experience, please consider sharing your story here.
Too often we move on to the next terrible tragedy without acknowledging the impact gun violence leaves in its wake, and when I discuss this issue with my colleagues across the aisle, I’m hoping our community’s stories can sway some minds.
If you have any other questions, comments, or ideas for me, always feel free to reach out. You can contact me at rep.david.gottfried@house.mn.gov or 651-296-7153. You’ll either hear back from me or my Legislative Assistant, Isabel.
To keep up with my work in the House, you can either check out my legislative webpage, or follow along on my official Facebook page. Thank you again for placing your trust in me. I can’t wait to see what we can build together!
In solidarity,
David Gottfried
State Representative
House District 40B