Senate’s First Comprehensive Plan Focuses on Schools, Research, and Gun Safety
St. Paul, Minn. – DFL senators and Minnesotans of diverse backgrounds announced at the State Capitol this morning the Senate’s first comprehensive plan to address the epidemic of gun violence in our society. The new plan is being introduced today to build on the momentum of the March for Our Lives events that took place across the country Saturday.
“This past weekend, we witnessed the largest mass protest against gun violence in our nation’s history,” said DFL senators* in a joint statement. “Minnesotans are desperate to have a civil conversation about gun violence with their elected officials. The plan we are announcing today is intended to get us closer to having that conversation.”
Adrian Ali-Caccamo, a student from Central High School in St. Paul, speaks during the press conference introducing comprehensive gun safety legislation.
An existing plan introduced in the Senate focuses on school security. By contrast, the new plan is the first comprehensive, multipronged approach to address gun violence introduced in the Senate this year. It focuses on three categories:
SCHOOLS
Improve school security equipment and require districts to establish threat assessment teams.
RESEARCH
Collect and study de-identified data about gun ownership the same way we study other public health data, such as obesity or diabetes rates.
GUN SAFETY
Keep guns out of the hands of criminals and people who may harm themselves.
A majority of Senate DFL Caucus members are authors or co-authors of the bills included in the plan. Authors made requests for their bills to receive public hearings. Senate Republicans have a one-seat majority and are the sole decision-makers as to whether or not bills get a public hearing.
*List of senators for attribution (in alphabetical order):
Greg Clausen (DFL-Apple Valley)
Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-Eden Prairie)
Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis)
Melisa Franzen (DFL-Edina)
Jason Isaacson (DFL-Shoreview)
Matt Klein, MD (DFL-Mendota Heights)
Carolyn Laine (DFL-Columbia Heights)
Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park)
John Marty (DFL-Roseville)
Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope)
Patricia Torres Ray (DFL-Minneapolis)
