Taylor Hayden Act seeks to reduce gun violence in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A Minnesota state senator is honoring his sister's memory by trying to reduce gun violence.

Sen. Jeff Hayden's measure earmarks hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations focused on preventing gun violence across Minnesota.

The senator introduced the bill Monday, hoping no other family has to experience the nightmare they lived through.

“We want people to understand gun violence doesn’t have to be the way it is today. We want people to understand there are other ways to settle a difference versus pulling out a gun; people’s lives are more than the moment,” said Joyce Hayden, mother of Taylor Hayden who was murdered in 2016.

Taylor Hayden, 25, was killed in apparent gang crossfire in Atlanta as she was enjoying a girl’s weekend with her friends.

Her brother, Sen. Jeff Hayden of Minneapolis, introduced the Taylor Hayden Gun Violence Prevention Act. The bill is an appropriations request aimed at making $400,000 available over the next two years to help nonprofit organizations focus on reducing gun violence in Minnesota.

“It helps us with our healing process. No one else goes through this. Our bill works on the issue, of getting in front," he said.

The Taylor Hayden Act now moves onto the next step in the legislative process.