Minnesota GOP lawmakers call for school security, mental health resources in wake of Annunciation shooting

Nathaniel Minor, Star Tribune on Sep 5, 2025

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MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota House Republicans are proposing a slate of school safety policies in response to the mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church last week.

The proposals include extending state school safety funding to nonpublic schools, new school security grants, an increase in school resource officers, more funding for mental health treatment beds and mandatory minimum prison sentences for repeat gun offenders.

“Minnesotans deserve real solutions that will meaningfully protect students and actually reduce gun violence,” GOP House Speaker Lisa Demuth said in a statement. “The policies we are proposing will protect students, provide desperately needed mental health care, and hold criminals who commit the vast majority of gun violence accountable.”

Republican positions on legislative action come in the wake of the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting, which killed two children and injured 21 other people attending a back-to-school church service. The Republican proposals do not contain any provisions that would limit access to firearms.

That’s in contrast to legislative Democrats and DFL Gov. Tim Walz, who says he’s planning to call a special session later this month where they hope to pass new gun regulations.

Finding agreement could be difficult at the Capitol, where any bill will need bipartisan support. Republicans hold a 67-66 majority in the House, pending a Sept. 16 special election to fill the seat last held by House DFL leader Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated in her home in June. DFLers hold a majority in the Senate but by one vote.

Still, Walz said Friday he was glad that Republicans put out some proposals. “They’re not going to focus on guns yet, but we will obviously,” he said.

Walz said he hopes Republicans have listened to the calls from parents at Annunciation who are calling for new gun-control laws.

It’s not yet clear, though, whether all Democrats will support the kind of gun-control proposals being floated by some members of their party, including a ban on assault weapons. Walz has supported such a ban in the past but not yet detailed his own proposal.

Democrats passed universal background checks and red flag protection laws when they held control of state government in 2023 and 2024. They didn’t advance a proposal to ban assault weapons at the time.

Walz said he hopes to meet with legislative leaders early next week to talk more about the special session. The Annunciation shooting, and possible reconvening of the Legislature, has also delayed his own plans to announce his decision on running for a third term, he said.

About two dozen faith leaders and gun-violence prevention advocates gathered at the State Capitol on Friday to call on legislators to reconvene and pass a ban on assault weapons.

“We give you a unique power and demand that you act,” said Doug Pagitt, pastor and executive director of Vote Common Good.

Hundreds of students from nearby schools walked into the news conference shortly after it started, holding signs with messages such as: “My grades don’t matter if I die before graduation” and “Homework due tomorrow if I survive today.”

“I have prayed; I have done my job,” said the Rev. Ashley Harness of the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis. “Now, elected officials, please go and do yours and ban assault weapons.”