Minnesota Senators Address Gun Violence Following Senate Working Group Hearings

Minnesota Senators Address Gun Violence Following Senate Working Group Hearings

ST. PAUL, MN — Minnesota lawmakers concluded two days of hearings by the Senate Gun Violence Prevention Working Group this week, amid ongoing concerns over high-profile acts of gun violence in the state, including the Annunciation Catholic Church and School shooting and the assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband.

Co-chairs Senator Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park) and Senator Zaynab Mohamed (DFL-Minneapolis) expressed disappointment over the lack of consensus on the proposals discussed. In a joint statement, they noted that discussions highlighted “major disagreement on what steps are necessary to protect our children and our communities,” while stressing that addressing gun violence requires attention both to its root causes and to the instruments of that violence: firearms themselves.

The co-chairs thanked parents, medical professionals, advocates, and members of the public who shared testimony during the hearings, calling their courage “an inspiration for the legislature to take meaningful action” on gun violence prevention.

One proposal gaining bipartisan support would increase penalties for impersonating a police or peace officer. Introduced by Senator John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin), who was wounded in a targeted shooting in June 2025, the measure seeks to upgrade impersonation from a misdemeanor to a felony and impose heightened penalties for repeat offenders or those committing additional crimes while impersonating an officer. Hoffman, still recovering from his injuries and unable to attend the hearings in person, issued a statement urging strong bipartisan backing for the measure and related reforms:

“The proposals being discussed by legislators, including my colleagues on the Senate Working Group, related to impersonation of a police or peace officer and recommissioning law enforcement vehicles deserve strong bipartisan support. There is no doubt it should be a felony for impersonating any front-line responder. We should also ensure that decommissioned law enforcement and public safety vehicles are not able to be purchased without background checks and proper professional certifications. I am confident that my colleagues, both Republicans and DFLers, can support these proposals.”

According to Republican Senator Carla Nelson, the impersonation bill enjoys “very bipartisan” support. The legislation follows a June shooting in which an assailant allegedly posed as a police officer, using a vehicle resembling a squad car to target lawmakers’ homes. The incident resulted in the deaths of Speaker Hortman and her husband and injuries to Senator Hoffman and his wife.

Despite agreement on the impersonation proposal, the working group did not reach bipartisan consensus on broader gun violence prevention measures. DFL-backed initiatives included an assault weapons ban, new firearm storage requirements, mandatory firearms training, creation of a state Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and public awareness campaigns around Extreme Risk Protection Orders. Gun rights advocates opposed many of these measures, arguing that they would not have prevented recent tragedies and that attention should instead focus on mental health interventions.

Partisan divisions became apparent during the Wednesday hearing, with DFL members criticizing Republicans for not advancing proposals of their own, while Republicans raised concerns about the DFL’s approach.

The Senate Gun Violence Prevention Working Group does not have authority to enact legislation, but its hearings and public testimony are expected to shape potential discussions during a special legislative session or the 2026 regular session.

MinneapoliMedia