Minnesota Moms Call Assault Weapon Ban After Annunciation School Shooting

Following the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Plymouth, Minnesota, where two children were killed and 21 others injured during a school Mass, three mothers whose children survived have publicly advocated for stricter gun laws. At a town hall meeting organized by Democratic Rep. Kelly Morrison, the mothers called for a ban on assault weapons, improved mental health resources, better background checks, secure gun storage, and enhanced threat detection online. Carla Maldonado emphasized that assault weapons, designed for battlefields, should not be accessible to civilians, while Malia Kimbrell, whose daughter Vivian is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds, questioned what type of weapon parents would accept a shooter having in their child's school. Stephanie Moscetti shared the emotional impact on her children, highlighting the urgent need for safer schools. The mothers also testified before a state legislative working group, facing opposition from the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, which argued that the perpetrator had legally purchased his firearms and urged a focus on mental health care improvements. Governor Tim Walz has pledged to call a special session to address gun violence, though no date has been set yet.