Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is urging a special session to address gun laws after a deadly school shooting, but faces a divided legislature.
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is asking Minnesota's legislature to return to special session
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so that lawmakers can debate and possibly pass stronger gun control laws, according to reports
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The move comes after a gunman opened fire at Annunciation Catholic Church and School on August 27th
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Two children, aged 8 and 10, were killed and 21 others were injured
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After attending back-to-school events Tuesday, Walls told reporters that he'll be calling lawmakers in the coming days to work on a detailed plan covering several aspects of gun legislation
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One part of the plan might be a ban on assault weapons. The sad reality of it is that what happened last week is preventable because so many nations around the world do it
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And we cannot resign ourselves to believe that our little ones can't be safe in what should be and always is the most safe environments they can possibly be in
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So there's more work to do there. Wall said, as reported by KSTP News, the governor hasn't fully explained his proposals yet
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but said that they won't infringe on Americans' Second Amendment right to bear arms
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He said that he is willing to consider suggestions from Republicans. It uncertain whether new gun laws would even get enough votes to become law The state legislature is nearly evenly split between Democrats and Republicans making it hard to pass controversial laws The House is expected
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to be tied 67 to 67 with Republicans in charge, and the Senate has a very narrow Democratic
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majority with just one vote. As disappointing as it is that the governor is doing this in such an
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overtly political way, House Republicans stand ready to protect students and schools. Minnesota
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House Speaker Lisa DeMuth said in a statement on X, I hope we can have a real conversation about
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all aspects of safety, including things like the school security funding that was denied by the
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DFL trifecta in 2023 and more funding for desperately needed mental health resources
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instead of vague demands for policies that have not stopped gun violence in other states
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the Cold Spring Republican added. 23-year-old Robin Westman carried out the mass shooting at
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the Catholic school in Minneapolis on August 27th. Officials said Westman used a rifle
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a shotgun, and a handgun to fire more than 100 shots through the decorative glass windows of the
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church while students were attending mass. For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan
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If you want more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com
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