Minneapolis (AP) – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz plans to call a special legislative period in order to take into account harder weapons laws after a shootout in a Catholic school in Minneapolis, in which two children were injured and 21 people.
The Democrat informed the reporters on Tuesday after he had left children in a public school in the suburb of Eagan in Minneapolis that he will be asked for a plan in the next few days. Walz said he intended to propose a “very comprehensive” package that could include a ban on attack weapons.
However, it is not clear whether novel restrictions on weapons could adopt the closely shared legislator of Minnesota. A special election this month is expected to restore a 67-67 draw in the house under a Republican spokesman, and the Senate Democrats only have a majority.
“To be very open, only in a very even (legislator), I will need some Republicans to break orthodoxy and say that we have to do something on weapons,” said Walz.
GOP legislative leaders, whose support for changes would be of crucial importance, complained after the governor had the idea of ​​a special meeting on Friday that he had not consulted it.
The Republican spokesman for the Republican House, Lisa Demuth, from Cold Spring, said she had a “long overdue” conversation with roll on Tuesday.
“If he decides to call a special meeting, everything we do must have non -partisan support,” said Demuth in a statement and found that both parties showed that they could work together in this year’s regular session. “When governor Walz and Democrats concentrate on partisan accusations and requirements, this special meeting will not be productive for people in Minnesota.”
Demuth announced in an earlier statement that the Republicans could be open to the expansion of school security financing for private schools and the provision of more money for resources for mental health.
While the governor did not give many details of his suggestions, he said that he would not be violated against the rights of the second change, but would protect the students. He stated that his plan could include secure requirements for warehouse and liability insurance, improvements in the 2023 “Red Fahnen” setting of the state and more funds for mental health. He also said he was open to GOP ideas.
“When Minnesota lets this moment slide and we find that it is okay that the little ones are not safe in a school environment or in a church environment, they shame us,” said Walz.
The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, together with several suburban citizens, held a Capitol press conference on Tuesday to demand legislators to change a state law of 1985 that prevents cities from issuing their own weapon restrictions.
Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis, said that they would prefer the congress and the legislator, the weapons of attacks and magazines with a high capacity at national and state level.
“If you can’t do it or are ready there, give us the opportunity to protect our voters,” said Frey. “This is our call. That is our question.”
At the weekend, the police increased the number of injuries to 21 – 18 children between the ages of 6 and 15 and three adults – from the attack on Wednesday to the preaching of the church.
The 23-year-old Robin Westman died of suicide after he had fired 116 rifles through the colored glass windows of the church, gathered hundreds of students from the nearby Catholic school and others on Wednesday.
While the investigators said they had not found a clear motive for the attack last week, the shooter had connections to the school. Westman’s mother worked for the community before retiring in 2021, and Westman once attended school. The incumbent US lawyer Joe Thompson said last week that the shooter left videos and writings that “expressing hatred of almost every group”, but admiration for mass murderers.
Tuesday was the first day back to the class for most public schools in Minnesota, but announcement students went back to school last Monday. No students have returned since the shootout, and the civil servants of the Catholic School have not yet said when their classes will be resumed.
Hennepin Healthcare said that three patients were still cared for on Monday and would not provide any further updates. This included a child in a critical condition and a child and an adult in a satisfactory state. The Minneapolis children’s hospital said a child stayed there on Tuesday, but did not give any illness.
