Mayor Carter and Minnesota Leaders Ready to Take Action on Gun Violence Prevention

SAINT PAUL—Today, Mayor Melvin Carter and city leaders from across Minnesota called on state lawmakers to either take urgent legislative action to prevent gun violence or let cities lead. Speaking at a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol, the coalition announced a united effort to bring forward ordinances designed to empower local governments to protect their communities, especially children, from the public safety crisis posed by gun violence. 

In Saint Paul, a draft ordinance will be introduced at the October 22 regular City Council meeting, with a public hearing on November 5. The proposed ordinance would: 

“There are so many excuses. How many layers of unacceptable should this be?” said Mayor Carter. “We’re advancing common-sense ordinances now so that the moment state preemption is lifted, we’re ready to put proven gun violence prevention measures in place without delay.” 

The group specifically urged lawmakers to repeal the preemption laws that prevent cities and counties from regulating firearms, ammunition, and related components. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said these laws stop cities from taking targeted, local action to respond quickly and effectively to gun violence and promote public safety.   

"Protecting our kids shouldn’t be controversial,” said Mayor Frey. “Local governments must have the power to act when certain state lawmakers won’t, and Minneapolis is ready to move our feet and lead with stronger gun reform measures.” 

The coalition includes mayors and city officials from Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville, Columbia Heights, Eden Prairie, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Mounds View, Richfield, Rochester, Shoreview, St. Louis Park, Stillwater, West Saint Paul, as well as Mom’s Demand Action, Protect Minnesota, Face to Face Academy, and other community partners who continue to push for comprehensive gun safety solutions. 

The press conference is one of several calling for action in the weeks following the August 27 mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis that injured 26 students and three adults and killed 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski. 

“If the state refuses to act and continues to avert their eyes, local government must be allowed to act,” said Kathleen Anderson, a volunteer and chapter leader of Minnesota Moms Demand Action. “Children should not be practicing lockdown drills at schools instead of their spelling words. Parents should not have to wonder if their children are going to be coming home from school. And local lawmakers should not have to be begging for the authority to keep their residents safe.” 

“Nowadays, we don’t know who has a gun,” said Tahjon Davis, who attends Face to Face Academy in Saint Paul. “As somebody who takes bus transportation, you can’t really tell who’s carrying or if you’re going to make it home or make it to any place that you can feel safe or comfortable.” 

“No matter what your political views are, we have all been affected this, and I know that it's time to take a stand against gun violence,” added Jay Dreher, who also attends Face to Face Academy. 

STATEMENTS FROM OTHER MINNESOTA LEADERS 

Mayor Tim Busse, City of Bloomington 

“It's not hyperbole to say we face a clear and present danger from weapons of war on our streets, in our schools, and in our places of worship. And we’re doing far too little to stop it. Urgency is paramount right now. We can’t allow this call to action to get lost in the endless news cycles.” 

Mayor April Graves, City of Brooklyn Center 

“In Minnesota, we’ve lost children in churches and neighbors on porches—futures. And still, we’re told to wait, to mourn, to hope someone else will fix it. We’re not just witnesses. We’re architects. We’re the ones who shape the future and the frame. We’re the ones who decide whether our laws reflect our love, whether our polices protect our people, whether our silence becomes action. This is our moment to shift the frame from reaction to prevention, from despair to determination, and from thoughts and prayers to votes and bills. Let us write laws that honor life.” 

Mayor Patrick Hanlon, City of Hopkins 

“The data in this country is overwhelming and abnormal as far as shootings [go]. As I’ve been going around and talking to people in the City of Hopkins, there is also a deep sadness because I don’t think anyone believes that anyone is going to do a damn thing about this at the end of the day. I come from a city that prides ourselves in still having bipartisanship and that someone can step across the aisle and support our mayors. And if they’re not willing to do it, give us the tools to have tools in our local city.” 

Mayor Brad Wiersum, City of Minnetonka 

“Public safety is of paramount importance to my city. I’m here today because I think that taking action to limit the types of guns available to the general public makes cities safer. These limits are not contrary to the protections provided by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.” 

Mayor Mary Supple, City of Richfield 

“I’m a retired educator who taught in Richfield for 30 years. When I began my teaching career, the school safety drills consisted of what to do if there was a tornado or a severe storm or a fire evacuation—all that changed in 1999 with Columbine. At the time, we told the students that statistically schools were the safest place you could be, and we hoped that this one-time horrific event would never ever happen again. Educators and parents can no longer say that. Our children deserve better.” 

Mayor Kim Norton, City of Rochester 

“Preemption has tied our hands at being able to take action to protect the people that we care about. I stand here ready to fight with these folks to put some rules in our own cities and hope and pray that folks at the Capitol and Congress take the action that they must take so that we can protect our residents.” 

Mayor Ted Kozlowski, City of Stillwater 

“As a property owner and as a business owner, I can ban firearms from my property and place of business. We ban guns from Vikings games, Wild games, the Mall of America—but as a community, I can’t have a conversation with my council to keep these guns out of Teddy Bear Park and Main Street. To me, that’s absurd and it needs to stop.” 

Councilmember John Doan, City of Shoreview 

“Like everyone here, I believe doing nothing about gun violence is simply not an option. When political gridlock puts the safety of our kids at risk, someone has to act. A patchwork of progress is better than a blanket. We can’t let perfection be the enemy of the good. 

Watch the full press conference here. 

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