ST. PAUL, Minn. (KFGO/WCCO) – The Minnesota Senate passed a sweeping package of gun control measures, including a ban on assault-style weapons, after a long and emotional day of debate.
Last summer, a gunman opened fire on students who were praying in the church at Annunciation School in Minneapolis, killing Harper Moyski and Fletcher Merkel, and injuring many more.
That tragedy prompted a call for action, but it’s been a hard fought battle on the Senate floor.
“What made Harper and Fletcher unique is what makes their loss a tragedy. What happened to them is not unique, it is in fact routine in this country,” Democratic state Senator Zaynab Mohamed said.
Parents of Annunciation School students who survived a mass shooting last summer watched from the gallery, as both sides debated the bills.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy says the bills will address mental health care, school safety.
“And harm reduction by eliminating assault weapons and high capacity magazines that shred bodies,” Murphy said.
The bill bans the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines, which Republicans oppose.
Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson was in support of a portion of the bill, but not all of it.
“There are aspects within this bill that absolutely hit on those critical needs that we have in this state,” he said. “My heart just breaks to see this kid put in a poison pill that we know isn’t constitutional.”
The Minnesota House is tied 67-67, with Democrats holding a slim, one-seat majority in the Senate. So, even though the Senate pushed through a bill in a 34-33 party line vote, it would need Republican support to get through the House.
“So we have just a few legislative days left, and yet we are spending hours and hours on something that is not moving in the House,” Republican Sen. Carla Nelson added.
There’s also a designation of $20 million for school safety and $14 million for mental health programs.
Republican State Sen. Andrew Lang explained what he believes the law would do if passed.
“Minnesota would not just regulate firearms, it would ban the possession of widely-owned, commonly used semi-auto firearms, impose criminal penalties, and force citizens into compliance schemes simply for owning the product that they legally purchased,” Lang adds.
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