Democratic lawmakers, including top congressional leaders, are urging stricter gun control following a deadly shooting at a Minneapolis school on Wednesday.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote on X, “I’m horrified by the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis and closely monitoring the situation. I’m thankful for the first responders on the scene. Students and teachers should not be putting their lives on the line just by going back to school. We must do more to stop gun violence in America.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., described the shooting as “horrifying,” adding, “Praying for the children, families and first responders during this moment of terror and unimaginable grief. Weapons of war have no place in our neighborhoods, streets or schools.”
Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., echoed the call for action on social media, expressing that such events should not be considered normal. “The simple solution is to pass sensible gun control. Without that, these tragedies will continue to happen, and children will continue to die,” he wrote.
The Richfield Police Department reported that up to 20 people were affected in the incident. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed and that their families had been notified. The Minneapolis Police Department stated there is “no active threat to the community at this time” and that “the shooter is contained.” According to Fox 9, the suspect, whose identity has not been released, is deceased.
Minnesota lawmakers from both parties offered condolences and prayers for the victims and their families. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., the highest-ranking Minnesotan in Congress, said, “We are tracking the reports about a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and first responders on the scene.”
Minnesota’s Democratic Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar also thanked law enforcement but differed on the approach to gun control. Smith said on X, “It’s the first week of school. These kids should not be fearing for their lives.”
Klobuchar told CNN that mass shootings highlight the need for stricter national standards. “We’ve done these things, but there’s much bigger things we could do when it comes to background checks and assault weapons, and having more national standards in place, and being stricter about getting these guns out there,” she said. “And if a bunch of kids praying in a church and shot down through the windows of that church and locked into that by a mad man, isn’t enough to make people move, I just don’t know what is.”
