“Do something!” was the chant by hundreds on the steps of the Minnesota Capitol Wednesday night, demanding state lawmakers require universal background checks for all gun sales, plus pass a “red flag” law. The crowd roared approval when Governor Tim Walz said, “As someone who served 24 years in the military, I’m very familiar with these weapons. I’ve shot everything from 9-millimeters to cannon and rocket launchers, and I’ll tell you what I learned by that is, the damn things don’t belong on the streets of our country.”
Dennis Fendt, who was a teacher for 41 years says, “I’m sick and tired of the shooting. I’m sick and tired of assault weapons and things just have to change. We’ve waited too long already.” Governor Tim Walz had a message for top Republican lawmakers: “If you feel so strongly about this, then have the vote in public, say no to it, and then we’ll decide what happens after that.”
Republican leaders say background checks will do nothing to reduce mass shootings — but they say they’re open to talk about measures to keep guns out of the hands of those with mental illness.