The top-ranking Minnesotan in Congress is sharply criticizing his state’s Democratic governor, arguing that the focus is misplaced in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school.
“Tim Walz and the people around him, they’re not trying to solve this. They’re just exacerbating the problem, and they’ve been exacerbating it over the last several years,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told Fox News Digital.
“So yes, I do put this squarely in their lap, and if we’re going to get this fixed, then I think Tim Walz and Democrats in my state really need to sit down and have a thoughtful discussion about how we deal with this mental health issue that they have encouraged.”
The shooting occurred Wednesday at a Mass held at Annunciation Catholic Church, attended by students from its affiliated school.
Authorities confirmed two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed, while 15 other children between 6 and 15, along with three adults, were injured.
The gunman was identified as Robin Westman, previously known as Robert Westman. Federal officials, including Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, noted that Westman claimed a transgender identity.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged the public not to use the tragedy “as an opportunity to villainize our trans community.”
Emmer, however, criticized Democrats at both the state and federal levels for calling for new gun control measures following the incident. “It starts at the top,” he said.
“If a gun wasn’t going to be available, clearly based on what this young man, what little we know of it right now, he would have found another way to commit a heinous act like this,” Emmer added. “That wasn’t going to stop him, and that’s not what caused the problem. What caused the problems is all the transgender confusion that Tim Walz and his Democrat colleagues are causing.”
“I wish our governor, rather than calling us a transgender sanctuary state, why doesn’t he say we’re a sanctuary state for all people of all faith, and we’re going to protect them all?” Emmer continued.
He was referencing laws signed by Walz designating Minnesota as a “refuge” for transgender individuals. Walz highlighted these policies earlier this week at the DNC’s summer meeting: “Minnesota ranks the highest per-capita for being a safe haven for transgender individuals.”
Emmer also acknowledged that the shooter “clearly had some mental health issues.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told ABC News that Westman “harbored a whole lot of hate towards a wide variety of people and groups of people” while displaying an “obsession” with mass shooters.
The New York Post reported that Westman’s manifesto reflected his struggles with his trans identity. “I regret being trans,” the shooter reportedly wrote before the attack. “I wish I was a girl. I just know I cannot achieve that body with the technology we have today. I also can’t afford that.”
The manifesto reportedly included expressions of anti-Semitism and complaints that media coverage only focused on the deaths of people of color.
Governor Walz has not publicly addressed the shooter’s identity. His recent comments have focused on thanking law enforcement and offering condolences.
“Students deserve to start the school year full of hope and excitement. No child in America should go to school apprehensive of danger, of losing a classmate, of gunshots during prayer,” Walz said on X on Thursday afternoon.
