Protect Students. Provide Care. Punish Criminals.
As discussions continue about the possibility of a special legislative session in Minnesota, one issue is urgent: school safety. Families, teachers, and communities want students to learn in safe and supportive environments. Any special session called should focus on comprehensive solutions that address this need.
The challenges are real. Simply banning weapons or ammunition rarely prevents harm. History has shown that prohibition alone does not remove dangerous items from society. Instead, it can create illicit markets, and individuals who intend to cause harm often find ways around restrictions. What matters most is addressing the root of the problem: those who intend to do violence. Effective measures focus on prevention, care, and accountability rather than restrictions alone.
Comprehensive solutions can make a real difference. Strengthening school security, expanding access to mental health care, and ensuring violent offenders face consequences are all essential steps. These measures work together to create an environment where students, teachers, and staff can feel safer and more supported. Several days ago, I toured a Lakeville school where a layered security system was funded by a local levy. It is fantastic. It protects our students, teachers, and staff without turning the school into an airport screening system. Prevention, combined with proper accountability, gives families peace of mind and allows students to focus on learning.
A special session provides an opportunity to pass legislation that addresses these priorities in a comprehensive way rather than through piecemeal fixes. Schools need the right resources, personnel, and support systems to maintain safety. Mental health services should be accessible to students who need them, and violent offenders must face consequences that protect communities.
Any action taken during a special session should focus on practical solutions that prevent harm, support student well-being, and hold criminals accountable. Families deserve peace of mind. Educators deserve the tools and support needed to keep students safe. Communities deserve to feel secure.
Minnesota students should be able to learn without fear. Schools should be safe, welcoming places for all. By prioritizing prevention, care, and accountability, lawmakers have a real opportunity to create safer schools and stronger communities across the state. If a special session comes to fruition soon, it ought to be used to pass legislation to protect students, provide mental health care, and punish criminals.
-Rep. Tom Sexton, House District 19B