Columbia Heights Joins Twin Cities Leaders in Push for State-Level Gun Reform Amid Ongoing Legal Developments

Columbia Heights Joins Twin Cities Leaders in Push for State-Level Gun Reform Amid Ongoing Legal Developments

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN — In a unified front, Columbia Heights is joining a coalition of Twin Cities metro leaders to advocate for significant state-level gun reform. This renewed push follows a recent mass shooting at a Minneapolis church and comes as a number of high-profile gun-related cases see their latest developments in Minnesota courts.

Metro Leaders Demand Legislative Action
Just days ago, mayors from across the Twin Cities, including Columbia Heights Mayor Amada Marquez Simula, gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol. They called on lawmakers to enact legislation banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The coalition also urged the legislature to lift state preemption laws that currently prevent local municipalities from implementing their own gun control measures.

“This is about protecting our communities,” Mayor Marquez Simula said. “If the state is unwilling or unable to act, local governments must have the authority to prevent further tragedies.”

The movement aligns with a broader regional push for legislative change, including support from Columbia Heights Representative Sandra Feist (DFL), who has been vocal about strengthening gun control measures.

Recent Sentencing and Legal Developments Highlight the Need for Reform
The mayors’ call for reform comes amid recent court actions highlighting the dangers of illegal gun transfers:

• Straw Purchasing Case: A woman who illegally purchased firearms for her boyfriend, who then used them to kill three first responders in Burnsville in 2024, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison. A judge noted that the woman “still had agency” and could have refused to buy the weapons, underscoring the risks posed by straw purchasing. The case also prompted a new Minnesota law classifying straw purchasing as a felony.
• Plea Deal in 2021 Killings: Separately, a Blaine man pleaded guilty to illegally buying dozens of guns, some of which were used in criminal activity, including the 2021 killings of two young girls. He faces up to 33 months in prison.

These recent developments highlight the tragic consequences of illegal firearm transfers and strengthen the argument for stricter state and local laws.

Community Concerns Drive Advocacy
Columbia Heights and other metro leaders point to these cases as evidence that current laws are insufficient. In March 2025, a local shooting incident in Columbia Heights left a teenager wounded and another arrested, demonstrating the ongoing threat of gun violence in the city.

Governor Tim Walz has indicated plans to convene a special session of the legislature to address gun violence, though details and timing remain uncertain. In the meantime, city leaders continue to press for reforms that would empower local governments to act decisively in protecting their communities.

MinneapoliMedia