Americans cannot "become numb" to gun violence, Minnesota state lawmaker says

Rep. Emma Greenman introduces HF3 on the House Floor April 13. (Photo by Catherine Davis)

Democratic Minnesota State Rep. Emma Greenman emphasized that the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School has far-reaching impacts in the local community, but Americans “can’t become numb” to gun violence.

“It shattered our community today, but there are lots of things we can and need to do, and we can’t become numb because that would be letting down all of the victims in the past,” she said today.

A screengrab of weapons from a YouTube video Westman uploaded before the shooting on Wednesday.

Greenman said it is “incredibly painful right now” and it is “hard not to” know people who were impacted by the shooting at the Catholic school. She said it is an area of Minneapolis where people come to buy Christmas trees and attend community events.

“The ripple of this is much more than just the kids and their families. These people in our community, we are all grieving for them,” she said.

Greenman said gun violence is “a travesty” and that it is a “national epidemic.” While Greenman said Minnesota has a red flag law and universal background checks in effect, she called on national leaders to take more action, such as passing a national assault weapons ban.

“We need to do all of these things because you should be able to go to school, you should be able to go to church, you should be able to go to the grocery store and not worry about being a victim of gun violence,” she said.

Leaders who let the gun lobby dictate policy “have blood on their hands,” March For Our Lives co-founder says

Jackie Corin, March for Our Lives co-founder and executive director, expressed grief and frustration at today’s mass shooting in Minneapolis, saying “leaders who let the gun lobby dictate policy have blood on their hands.”

“We started March For Our Lives because we never wanted another generation to feel this grief,” Corin said in a statement. “Yet here we are again. Until our leaders choose children over guns, the cycle will continue. And we refuse to let them look away.”