Annunciation mass shooting: Faith leaders call for assault weapon ban

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A coalition of faith leaders, in partnership with Moms Demand Action and Vote Common Good, are calling for assault weapons and high-capacity magazines to be banned after the Annunciation mass shooting in Minneapolis. 

The group held a news conference at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul at 1 p.m. Raw footage of the news conference can be viewed above.

The news conference included representatives from Vote Common Good, Moms Demand Action, First Universalist Church in Minneapolis, Bet Shalom congregation, Moms Demand Action, The Table in Minneapolis, Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church and Minnesota Children's Hospital. 

News conference statements 

What they're saying:

Executive Director and Co-Chair of Vote Common Good Doug Pagitt shared the following written statement ahead of the news conference: 

"Vote Common Good is calling on the Minnesota legislature to pass an assault weapons ban in light of the Annunciation Church shooting. As people of faith, we believe protecting lives is a sacred duty, and pursuing the common good requires bold action to end the scourge of gun violence."

During the news conference, a representative for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Kathleen Anderson, spoke about the impact that gun violence have on communities. 

"Because I'm a parent, I also know the terror and desperation that had parents running, some barefoot, towards an active shooter last Wednesday," Anderson said. 'We all suffer from intrusive thoughts: 'What is the fastest way to school in the event of a shooter. Why is my child's classroom so close to the main door?'"

Anderson said she then went "off script" to make the following statements:

"The guns rights extremists are on the defensive this week," Anderson said. "They will retweet and jeer what I just said, calling all of us hysterical, delusional, reminding us that their rights don't care about our feelings."

Assistant Minister at First Universalist Church in Minneapolis Reverend Ashley Harness, spoke to lawmakers about their responsibilities to constituents. 

"I'm here because we seem to have some job confusion between me and you, our elected officials," Rev. Harness said. "My job, as a pastor, is to have thoughts and prayers. Your job job is to make policy change. 

Several students participating in the nationwide school walkouts also spoke during the news conference.

GOP releases school safety measures

The other side:

Minnesota GOP leaders released their school safety proposals in response to Gov. Walz calling for a special session on gun control.

Below are the proposed provisions Republicans as shared in a news release:

• Expanding school safety funding to non-public schools. The GOP says Democrats ignored pleas from the Minnesota Catholic Conference in 2023 to make non-public schools eligible for security funding allocated to public schools.
• School security grants, including the SHIELD Act - HF 15
• Flexibility for school funding streams to be used for safety improvement
• Making School Resource Officers available to every school
• Repeal or amend the Democrats' prohibition on doctors using their best medical judgment, instead of leaving their hands tied with political decisions made by the Democrat trifecta
• Boost funding for mental health treatment beds
• Mandatory minimum prison sentences for repeat gun criminals and for straw purchasers who enable a violent crime