ST. PAUL, Minn. (KFGO) – The Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security is recommending changes to the capitol complex in St. Paul, including the addition of weapons screening. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan chairs the committee.
“I firmly believe that if the legislature and the governor take up the recommendations in our newly approved report, especially implementing a consistent screening process and limiting weapons, everyone who works on the capitol complex or visits the capitol complex will be safer,” Flanagan said.
During a public hearing on Tuesday, Lexi Anderson from Students Demand Action called for the recommendations to pass.
“These are places where people gather to protest, celebrate and speak up, not where they should be afraid. As a young Minnesotan who is fighting every day for change, I expect the people in charge to do everything they can to protect the public and prevent harm. Feeling safe is a right and it should stop being treated as a privilege.”
Republican Representative Jim Nash of Waconia said he couldn’t vote for the weapons screening because, at this point, he doesn’t know the price tag.
“The funding picture is beyond unclear and my reticence on moving ahead on that is because we don’t have an understanding of where things are,” Nash explained.
Democratic Representative Kelly Moller says the cost shouldn’t matter.
“I really do hope that that changes when these bills do come before the legislature and the cost of us not acting on that is too great.”
All eight recommendations from weapons screening to new technology and emergency preparedness passed the committee. The recommendations now head to the full legislature for discussion during the next session which starts on Feb. 17.
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