Minnesota Senate approves assault weapons ban after emotional debate
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Red-shirted Moms Demand Action volunteers joined Annunciation families in the Senate gallery. Photo: Torey Van Oot/Axios
The Minnesota Senate approved a gun violence prevention package that includes a ban on sales of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines after hours of emotional debate on Monday.
The big picture: Democratic leaders in the narrowly divided chamber had vowed to bring the proposals up for a vote in the wake of last summer's mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and Church.
- Similar measures have stalled in the tied House, where GOP leaders say additional gun restrictions are a non-starter.
Zoom in: The assault weapons ban was folded into a broader package that includes tougher storage requirements and additional funding for school safety and mental health.
- "Any one of these provisions would make our schools safer immediately," DFL Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, a co-author whose district includes Annunciation, said. "All of them together will make our schools safer forever."
The fine print: Under the bill, most future transfers and sales of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons would be banned.
- Current owners would need to register their firearms with the state.
The other side: Republicans who voted against the bill raised concerns about gun owners' rights, saying the definitions were too broad and requirements too onerous, and argued that the restrictions won't actually prevent future tragedies.
- "I am sorry that we are being asked to strip away rights with a bill that will never clear the other body and will not actually solve the problem," Sen. Julia Coleman (R-Waconia) said.
Inside the room: Annunciation families, including the parents of slain 10-year-old Harper Moyski, watched from the gallery above as lawmakers delivered tearful speeches for and against the bill.
The intrigue: All eyes were on a few swing-district Democrats who had previously expressed opposition to additional gun control measures.
- One, DFL Sen. Grant Hauschild of Hermantown, broke down as he recounted the "regret, guilt and shame" he felt after learning that his own cousin's children fled the Annunciation shooting.
"It shouldn't take a personal experience that I have in order for me to have the courage to do something, but that's the reality that I'm living with," Hauschild, a lifelong hunter who represents a conservative Northeastern Minnesota district, said.
Another, Sen. Judy Seeberger of Afton, said she was voting aye even though she still has concerns about the impact the proposed bans will have on lawful gun owners.
What we're hearing: Harper's father, Mike Moyski, told reporters that he is grateful for the Senate's vote and remains "optimistic" that the measure could get consideration in the House, based on his conversations with lawmakers in that chamber.
- "Our faith has been tested, as you could imagine... But today, my faith translates into community," he said. "And so it's really strong in that respect, and seeing people show up to do good things during hard times."
What's next: The session adjourns May 18.