Dear Neighbors,
I continue to mourn alongside the rest of our community following the tragedy that occurred at Annunciation Catholic School. I grieve for the students whose lives were lost in the attack, as well as the other students, parents, teachers, first responders, medical providers, and community members who must now carry the trauma following yet another incident of senseless gun violence. Nobody should have to face this fear in their day-to-day lives, whether at school, a place of worship, or anywhere in our neighborhoods.
We have to acknowledge the fact that gun violence is a uniquely American problem. Every life lost is one too many – including any life taken in an act of political assassination – and we must never allow ourselves to become numb to these tragedies or accept them as a normal part of reality. While Democrats have built a foundation in recent years to make our communities safer through criminal background checks, red flag laws, and other actions, there is clearly more to do. In the coming weeks and months, we will have renewed conversations about how to recommit ourselves to building a safer future for everyone. We will keep listening to our neighbors – with the voices of survivors at the center – about how to address the causes of this violence, including easy access to types of weapons designed to inflict mass harm. Simply put, we cannot accept a status quo where gun violence is normal.
On top of this, it’s critical that the media covers these tragedies in a way that doesn’t increase infamy and notoriety. I’m calling on the media to do better when reporting on mass shooters. In the initial hours following the shooting, I heard both the St. Paul and Minneapolis police chiefs rightly refuse to name the shooter, but the media ignores what is known to be a best practice. Center the victims - No Notoriety! Read a commentary I submitted to the Star Tribune on this subject.
Resources
- 211 United Way: Free, confidential information about health care and emergency services. Call 2-1-1 anytime, or visit findhelp.org.
- Mental Health Minnesota: Confidential peer support via the Minnesota Warmline, available daily from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. at 651-288-0400, or text “Support” to 85511.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call, text, or chat 988 anytime for immediate support.
- Resources for parents & educators: Guidance on talking with children about gun violence here for parents, and here for educators.
- Be Smart Toolkit: Practical tools for safe firearm storage and conversations about guns in the home.
- Blood donation: Learn more from Memorial Blood Centers and the American Red Cross.
- See It, Say It, Send It App: Report threats anonymously to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Call 1-877-996-6222 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us.
- Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs): Also known as red flag laws, ERPOs allow temporary restrictions on firearm access for individuals posing a threat. Learn more here.
Stay In Touch
Please feel free to contact me directly with your viewpoints or if I can be of assistance. My email is rep.kelly.moller@house.mn.gov and my phone number is 651-296-0141.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Sincerely,
Kelly Moller
State Representative