[0:00] And I want to say thank you to all of [0:01] the local leaders who are standing with [0:03] us today as well as all who continue to [0:05] step up and commit to this critical and [0:07] life-saving work. Mayor Fry, we are [0:10] still grieving with Minneapolis and we [0:12] continue to send our prayers and support [0:14] to the enunciation families and the [0:15] entire city of Minneapolis. We want to [0:18] thank you for being with us and we want [0:19] to tell you we heard the city of [0:21] Minneapolis when we heard loud and clear [0:23] those families say pray with your feet. [0:25] And when we were here a couple of weeks [0:27] ago, a number of us, I was just sharing [0:28] back uh in in the other room, uh someone [0:31] asked a number of us, what should be [0:32] different? Why should this mass shooting [0:34] be different than the others? Uh and [0:36] sadly, we all know that that our [0:38] Congress is unlikely to take bold [0:39] action. Uh and we all know that uh [0:42] there's an uphill battle. Our governor [0:43] has said we need a special session. We [0:45] have legislative leaders who are [0:46] fighting to push for a special session, [0:48] but we still have an uphill battle for [0:50] bold action to come out of this space. [0:52] So that means local leaders have to [0:53] stand up and act. We have to do [0:55] something different. And I'm proud to be [0:57] a part of a local collective of leaders [0:58] who has said we are going to do [1:00] something different. We are proposing in [1:02] all of our cities moving forward, we [1:04] will be proposing a set of policies that [1:06] will do four simple things. That will [1:07] ban the public possession of assault [1:09] weapons, that will ban those devices [1:11] that turn regular guns into machine [1:13] guns, that will ban guns in libraries [1:16] and parks and rec centers and sensitive [1:18] uh civic spaces, and that will require [1:20] every gun to have a serial number. Those [1:22] things have two things in common. One, [1:25] most motans, the vast majority of motans [1:28] think that's the bare minimum of what we [1:30] ought to be doing on guns. And two, [1:32] there are a number of leaders right here [1:34] in this building in our legislature who [1:36] says that's far too much. That's [1:38] absurdity. And we have to make sure that [1:40] we uh we make that plain. We we have [1:42] asked and we're asking again for our [1:44] state to either uh act and set those [1:47] things into law statewide or remove the [1:50] the preeemptions that prevent cities [1:52] from being able uh to implement these [1:54] laws and ourselves because we know that [1:57] state law preempts us from even um [2:00] enforcing these common sense laws. We're [2:02] happy to be here. I'm going to pass it [2:04] off to Mayor Fry and uh we have a number [2:06] of mayors who would love to share with [2:07] you their thoughts on this and then [2:08] we'll take questions at the end. Thank [2:09] you so much, Mayor Fry. [2:10] >> Thank you, Mayor. Good to see you. [2:12] >> Thank you. [2:12] >> Thank you, Mayor Carter. Thank you for [2:14] the bold action and for moving your feet [2:16] and also for your support of families [2:18] throughout Minneapolis that have [2:20] suffered so greatly over the last couple [2:22] of months. Uh in the enunciation [2:25] shooting, hundreds of rounds were fired [2:29] by a militarystyle [2:32] weapon with a highcapacity magazine. [2:36] By the way, these guns and that [2:40] magazine, they were obtained legally. [2:44] That is precisely the problem. And we as [2:47] mayors are trying to make a difference [2:50] because here's the thing. We're the ones [2:51] that get called at 1:30 in the morning [2:53] because yet another kid has been gunned [2:56] down. We're the ones that have phone [2:59] calls and meetings with grieving family [3:02] members who are suffering deeply because [3:04] of gun violence. [3:06] We know what the answers are. The [3:09] answers are to get these weapons of war [3:11] off our streets, to ban highcapacity [3:15] magazines, to ban assault rifles, and if [3:18] the federal and state legislators aren't [3:20] able or willing to do it, give us the [3:23] ability to do it ourselves because we [3:26] have a deep responsibility and [3:28] obligation to keep our city safe. Uh [3:30] like uh St. Paul, Minneapolis is [3:32] preparing an ordinance to take effect uh [3:34] the moment that the state's firearm [3:36] preeemption law is lifted. I want to [3:39] thank council member Oreen Chowry who's [3:41] with us who is ready to bring forward [3:43] that necessary legislation that of [3:45] course I will sign the moment it hits my [3:48] desk. Uh we are ready to act and what we [3:52] are saying is move your feet with us, [3:55] act with us so that this kind of thing [3:57] never happens again. Uh there is no [3:59] higher duty. And with that uh I will [4:01] turn it over to my good friend and the [4:04] mayor of Rochester, Kim Norton. [4:07] >> Thank you. [4:09] >> Thank you very much. It was an honor and [4:11] privilege to uh drive up here today to [4:14] stand with these wonderful folks behind [4:16] me. As city leaders, it is our job to [4:19] care about the people who live in our [4:22] community. Preeemption has tied our [4:24] hands at being able to take action to [4:27] protect the people that we care about. [4:30] Back in 2015 16 when I served in the [4:32] legislature, I carried four pieces of [4:34] legislation. Not exactly as we have here [4:37] today, but different common sense gun [4:40] laws that would help us to be able to [4:42] take some control over these issues. I [4:45] couldn't even get a hearing. And yet [4:47] here we are today after the tragic [4:49] shooting at Annunciation Church, facing [4:51] these very same issues over and over [4:53] again. So I stand here ready to fight [4:56] with these folks to put some rules in [4:58] our own cities and hope and pray that [5:01] folks at the Capitol take the action [5:03] that they must take and at Congress to [5:05] take the action they must take so that [5:07] we can protect our residents. Um I have [5:10] the privilege of introducing uh the [5:12] Bloomington mayor, Tim Busy, who's going [5:14] to speak next. Thank you, Mayor. [5:17] >> Good afternoon. I'm Tim Busy, mayor of [5:18] the city of Bloomington. I'm proud to be [5:20] here with my fellow mayors and community [5:22] advocates to speak on this very [5:24] important topic and to call to action uh [5:27] to to emphasize this call to action. [5:29] It's not hyperbole to say that we are uh [5:32] in a clear and present danger situation. [5:35] We have weapons of war on our streets, [5:38] in our schools, in our places of [5:40] worship. And the call to action is now. [5:43] Since the tragic shooting at the [5:44] Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, [5:46] motans have made one thing clear. [5:48] Inaction is not a an option any longer. [5:52] We must do something. And if it's uh if [5:55] state and federal leaders don't act and [5:57] won't act, cities absolutely will. [6:00] Cities will lead on gun violence [6:02] protection in one simple way and one [6:04] simple reason. We're the closest to the [6:06] problem and we are closest to the [6:07] solution in so many ways. Our law [6:09] enforcement and our local health [6:11] officials are on the front lines. They [6:13] they respond to shootings. They comfort [6:16] grieving families. They manage the [6:18] trauma that ripples through the [6:19] neighborhoods after these shootings. [6:21] That proximity creates urgency and it [6:24] creates accountability. And that urgency [6:26] is very paramount right now. We can't [6:29] let this issue be lost in the endlessly [6:32] ridiculous news cycles that happen. This [6:34] needs to stay at the front of everyone's [6:36] mind and be a a priority for the state [6:38] of Minnesota and for the United States. [6:40] Unlike state and federal governments, [6:42] cities don't get bogged down in [6:43] gridlock. We can't afford to. We pilot [6:45] programs. We adjust policies. We [6:48] implement ordinances. We get the work [6:50] done. And when cities succeed, states [6:53] often follow. Giving cities the [6:55] authority and resources to lead can [6:57] spark solutions that scale scale up, [6:59] creating models for regional and [7:01] national reform. In short, we mayors [7:03] aren't asking for permission to keep our [7:05] residents safe. Cities do that every [7:07] single day. What we are asking for is [7:09] the uh opportunity to put in place [7:12] specific common sense legislation, [7:14] ordinances in our own cities that will [7:16] keep our residents safer [7:19] and to do that before we're standing [7:21] here again. [7:22] >> That's right. [7:23] >> With that, I would like to introduce my [7:24] neighbor to the north, the mayor of [7:25] Richfield, Mary Supple. [7:34] Good morning. Thank you all for being [7:36] here. My name is Mary Supple. I'm the [7:39] mayor of Richfield and I'm a retired [7:41] educator who taught in Richfield for 30 [7:43] years. When I began my teaching career, [7:47] the school safety drills consisted of [7:50] what to do if there was a tornado or a [7:52] severe storm or a fire evacuation. [7:56] All that changed in 1999 [7:59] with Coline. At the time, we told the [8:02] students that statistically schools were [8:05] the safest place you could be. And we [8:07] hoped that this one-time horrific event [8:09] would never ever happen again. [8:12] Educators and parents can no longer say [8:15] that. Sadly, we have again experienced [8:19] the violence right here at home at [8:21] Enunciation. [8:23] We have the power to change this [8:25] disturbing pattern of violence. [8:29] I urge our legislators to take a action [8:32] to address gun violence at the state [8:35] level. And if the state does not act to [8:37] protect our children, I believe cities [8:39] should be allowed to take action at the [8:41] local level. It's very simple. Our [8:44] children deserve better. Thank you. And [8:48] now I'd like to introduce my colleague, [8:50] Mayor Kuzlowski from Stillwater. [8:57] Uh, thank you everybody. Ted Kazlowski, [8:59] mayor of Still Water. Um, you know, as a [9:02] property owner, as a business owner, I [9:04] can ban firearms from my place of [9:07] business, my my property. [9:10] We ban guns from Vikings games, Wild [9:13] Games, the Mall of America. It seems [9:15] like a no-brainer, right? But as a [9:17] community, I can't have a conversation [9:19] with my council to keep these guns out [9:21] of Teddy Bear Park. [9:23] >> That's right. [9:23] >> I can't keep them off of Main Street. [9:25] We've had demonstrations on Main Street [9:27] in downtown Stillwater with people [9:28] carrying AR-15s, [9:30] >> but I can't keep those guns off of Main [9:32] Street. I don't have the authority to do [9:34] it. To me, that's absurd. Right. The [9:36] Mall of America can ban guns. the Excel [9:39] Energy or sorry the Grand Casino [9:42] >> the Grand Casino Arena can can keep guns [9:45] out of out of their events and off their [9:47] property. But as the mayor of the city [9:48] of Stillwater, I can't keep him out of [9:49] Teddy Bear Park and it's absolutely [9:50] absurd [9:51] >> and it needs to stop. So with that, I'm [9:53] going to turn it over and uh introduce [9:56] Mayor Graves. Come on, Mayor Graves. [10:00] >> Thank you. [10:02] >> Hello, Mayor Graves from the city of [10:04] Brooklyn Center. [10:07] There is a frame of mind we've been [10:08] asked to live in. One shaped by grief, [10:10] by sirens, by the quiet ache of another [10:13] headline that sounds too much like the [10:14] last. In Minnesota, we've lost children [10:17] in churches, neighbors on porches, [10:19] futures and flashes. And still, we're [10:21] told to wait, to mourn, to hope someone [10:24] else will fix it. But I say this, we're [10:26] not just witnesses. We are architects. [10:29] >> That's right. [10:30] >> We are the ones who shape the future and [10:32] the frame. We're the ones who decide [10:33] whether our laws reflect our love, [10:36] whether our policies protect our people, [10:38] whether our silence becomes action. This [10:41] is our moment to shift the frame from [10:43] reaction to prevention, from despair to [10:46] determination, and from thoughts and [10:48] prayers to votes and bills. [10:50] >> That's right. [10:51] >> Let us write laws that honor life. Let [10:53] us demand background checks, safe [10:55] storage, community investment, and a ban [10:57] on weapons of war in our neighborhoods. [11:00] Let us build coalitions as strong as our [11:02] sorrow. Let us turn pain into policy. [11:05] Because healing is not passive. It's [11:08] presence. It's power. It's people [11:10] standing together speaking truth and [11:12] reshaping the frame. So today I ask you, [11:15] don't just feel act. Don't just grieve, [11:18] lead. Let us be the ones who change the [11:20] narrative. Let us be the ones who shape [11:22] the laws. Let us be the ones who say no [11:24] more and actually mean it. [11:26] >> That's right. And with that, I'd like to [11:28] introduce my friend, uh, Mayor Hanlin [11:30] from Hopkins. [11:36] >> Yeah. When I, uh, when I go around [11:39] Hopkins and I talk to people in Hopkins, [11:41] uh, they don't they are they we lean [11:44] weakly to the right and lean weakly to [11:47] the left. We are strong centrists in our [11:49] city. Um, and these kids that died at [11:52] Annunciation and across this country [11:54] were not Republicans and they weren't [11:56] Democrats. [11:58] >> Uh, I've I've been told that uh, you [12:01] know, this is this is a cause. This is [12:02] because of uh, emotion that's happening [12:04] here. The overwhelming emotion. Well, [12:06] the data in this country is overwhelming [12:09] and abnormal as far as the shootings [12:11] that are going on here. And I really [12:12] pride pride myself in coming from a [12:15] state that uh, still bipartisanship [12:17] exists. Uh, and as I've been going [12:20] around and talking to people in the city [12:22] of Hopkins, across our city, I think [12:24] they are so obviously the the emotion [12:28] around the shooting and the sorrow and [12:30] the sadness is there, but there is also [12:32] a deep sadness because I don't think [12:34] anyone believes that anyone is going to [12:36] do a damn thing about this at the end of [12:39] the day. And I'm hoping that, like I [12:41] said, I come from a city uh that we [12:44] pride ourselves in still having [12:45] bipartisanship and that someone can step [12:47] across the aisle uh and support our [12:49] mayors and if and if they're not willing [12:51] to do it to give us the tools to have [12:53] tools in our local city. Thank you. And [12:55] with that, uh Mayor Harmon wanted to be [12:57] here from Golden Valley today and she [12:58] couldn't make it. And I'm going to [13:00] introduce my good friend, Mayor Bradome [13:03] from Minnitonka. [13:04] >> Thank you, sir. Um, thank you, Mayor [13:07] Hanland, and uh, thank you all for being [13:09] here today. I'm Brad Wearsome, mayor of [13:11] the city of Minnitonka, and I'm here [13:14] today because for me as a mayor, public [13:17] safety is of paramount importance to my [13:20] city. I am a nonpartisan person who no [13:23] holds a nonpartisan office. I may be [13:26] somewhat unusual. Um, I'm here today [13:28] because I think that taking action to [13:30] the limit to limit the types of guns [13:33] available to the general public makes [13:35] cities safer. I am not anti-gun. [13:40] I do however support restrictions on the [13:42] availability of assault weapons, binary [13:45] triggers, armor-piercing bullets, and [13:47] other particularly virulent types of [13:50] guns and ammunition. [13:52] These limits are not contrary to the [13:54] protections provided by the second [13:56] amendment of the US Constitution. None [13:59] of the technologies that I just [14:01] described were even invented at the time [14:04] the Bill of Rights was adopted. [14:06] >> That's right. [14:07] >> While I think that these recommendations [14:08] are straightforward, common sense [14:11] restrictions, it is never so simple. [14:14] What seems to be common sense to some is [14:17] a highly divisive political issue to [14:20] others. I'm a political moderate who [14:23] believes that taking some action is [14:26] absolutely essential. The four actions [14:28] that are collectively supported by the [14:30] mayors here will not stop horrific gun [14:33] violence. They will make our residents [14:36] modestly safer and will potentially [14:39] reduce the the severity and virolence of [14:42] future shootings. That is not a [14:45] solution, but it is a rational [14:47] incremental step forward to making our [14:50] cities safer. Cities need to lead and [14:54] leaders need to lead. Let's get this [14:57] done. [14:57] >> That's right. [14:58] >> And with that, I will turn it to Council [15:00] Member Doan. [15:06] >> I'm John Don, Shore View City Council [15:08] member, a parent, and a former Navy [15:10] lieutenant. I'm here representing myself [15:14] with all of these great people to speak [15:16] truth to power. That's right. [15:19] >> Like everyone here, I believe doing [15:21] nothing about gun violence is simply not [15:24] an option. I don't want to see the [15:26] federal or state leaders step back from [15:29] their responsibilities, but when [15:31] political gridlock puts the safety of [15:34] our kids at risk, someone has to act. [15:37] >> That's right. Would I prefer a unified [15:41] statewide approach? [15:43] >> Absolutely. [15:44] But if that's not happening, cities must [15:47] do what we can because a patchwork of [15:51] progress is better than a blanket of [15:54] inaction. [15:55] >> That's right. [15:56] >> We can't let perfection be the enemy of [15:58] the good. And I want to commend Mayor [16:02] Carter for his bold leadership and this [16:04] coalition of mayors for choosing action [16:07] over apathy. I stand with you and I will [16:11] do everything in my power to make sure [16:12] no community, no family has to ever [16:16] endure another enunciation again. Thank [16:18] you. I'd like to introduce uh Kathleen [16:20] Anderson with Moms Demand Action. [16:27] >> Good morning everyone. Um, I have to [16:29] confess that the emotions of the last [16:32] six weeks have caught up to me um with [16:35] the frustration and the sadness and um [16:38] and just the weight of it. So, it's felt [16:40] really good to arrive today and see so [16:41] many familiar faces um and people that [16:43] are fighting for the same things that [16:45] that we've been fighting for um for [16:47] years, not just the last six weeks. My [16:50] name is Kathleen Anderson. I'm one of [16:52] the chapter leaders for Mom's Demand [16:53] Action in Minnesota and I organize out [16:56] of St. Paul. I came to this volunteer [16:58] work from my experiences as a clinical [17:01] social worker who sat across from [17:03] families whose lives have been upended [17:05] by gun violence or the persistent threat [17:08] of gun violence. Those psychic wounds [17:11] run deep and impact individuals, [17:13] families, and communities long after the [17:15] headlines have faded. [17:18] It's been a month and a half since the [17:20] enunciation Catholic school shooting. [17:22] Five weeks since I stood at this very [17:24] same lectern with many of the people [17:26] behind me. Two weeks since I stood on [17:29] the steps of the capitol with [17:30] enunciation moms. Two children were [17:34] killed in a place that should have been [17:35] their sanctuary. Their classmates, [17:38] teachers, and families are forever [17:40] changed. We as motans are forever [17:43] changed. And since that tragedy, motans [17:47] have made one thing clear. We cannot [17:49] look away. [17:51] The families are begging us, do not look [17:54] away. And the mayors aren't looking [17:56] away. Everyone here has reached out to [17:59] us, thanked our volunteers after events, [18:02] and offered to help. They are united in [18:04] saying enough is enough. [18:07] Local leaders should have the power to [18:09] protect their communities, but right [18:11] now, Minnesota preeemption laws stop [18:13] them from doing so. It handcuffs cities [18:16] and counties, blocking them from passing [18:19] their own gun safety measures, even [18:21] basic common sense ones like banning [18:23] assault weapons, requiring secure [18:25] storage of firearms, and keeping guns [18:27] out of rec centers and libraries. [18:30] Businesses recognize that guns on their [18:32] property carry great risk to their [18:34] customers and their bottom line. [18:37] Insurance companies recognize that guns [18:39] on their property offer great risk. The [18:42] gun lobby is the only one who benefits [18:44] from these laws, which is why they [18:46] lobbyed successfully across the nation [18:49] beginning in the 1980s. Today, in 42 [18:52] states across the nation have these [18:54] preeemption laws on the books. So, if a [18:56] mayor wants to take action to protect [18:58] children in their own city, they cannot. [19:02] The status of these laws is not [19:03] leadership, it's obstruction, and it's [19:06] also intentional intimidation, seeking [19:08] to punish those who attempt to reduce [19:10] gun violence in their communities. and [19:12] it's costing lives. If the state refuses [19:15] to act and continues to avert their [19:17] eyes, local government must be allowed [19:20] to. This call for action is part of the [19:23] larger movement that is sweeping the [19:25] state from survivors to medical [19:28] professionals to teachers to the faith [19:30] leaders who have been gathering for the [19:32] last seven days in action and prayer. In [19:36] just a few moments, these clergy members [19:38] who represent more than 900 faith [19:41] leaders across the state of Minnesota [19:43] will close their week of prayer right [19:45] here at the Capitol. They've shown us [19:47] what moral courage looks like, and now [19:49] it's time for our lawmakers to match it. [19:53] Children should not have to be [19:55] practicing lockdown drills at schools [19:57] instead of their spelling words. Parents [19:59] should not have to wonder if their [20:01] children are going to be coming home [20:02] from school. and local lawmakers should [20:04] not have to be begging for the authority [20:07] to keep their residents safe. Governor [20:09] Walls and our elected leaders, we are [20:12] ready for action. We have been begging [20:14] for action. Please give our local [20:17] authorities the power to do what they [20:19] feel is necessary to keep their [20:20] residents safe. Okay. And with that, um [20:23] we are honored to have um some of our [20:26] high school activists here um to talk [20:30] about uh how they feel about these [20:31] issues. So, uh, oh, there you are, [20:34] Tajan. There you are. [20:36] >> Davis, [20:36] >> I was looking around. Come on, Tan. [20:38] >> Thank you. [20:40] >> Good morning. My name is Tan Davis, and [20:42] today I'm representing Face to Face [20:44] Academy. I feel like nowadays, we don't [20:47] know who has a gun and who's not. And as [20:51] somebody who takes bus transportation, [20:54] you don't you don't really you can't [20:56] really tell who's carrying or if you're [20:59] going to make it home or make it safe to [21:02] any place that you can feel safe or [21:04] comfortable. Well, it's home or your [21:06] grandparents house somewhere you feel [21:08] safe. I feel like we need change and [21:12] I feel like our mayors are the one that [21:14] can help us. [21:14] >> All right. All right. Thank you, sir. [21:18] I'm Jay Dreer from Face to Face Academy [21:21] and I'd just like to say that it's time [21:24] to stop gun violence. No matter what [21:26] your political views are, we have all [21:28] been affected by this and it's a scary [21:31] place where people can have access to [21:33] something that can take someone's life [21:34] so quickly. Um, [21:38] and you can never get that life back. [21:40] And that's just something that is so [21:42] hard to grasp for a lot of people. And I [21:45] know that it's time to take a stand [21:46] against gun violence. [21:51] >> Just weeks ago, we experienced children [21:55] in a school, [21:57] in a church [21:59] praying, [22:01] who had bullets rain down on them [22:05] through a stained glass window so fast [22:08] they didn't have a chance to run or hide [22:11] or fight or do anything. Those seveny [22:15] olds, those eight-year-olds, those nine [22:17] year olds, those 10 year olds knew that [22:20] they had to do anything they could to [22:23] protect Minnesota children from gunfire. [22:26] And that's the exact same thing we are [22:28] asking from our legislative leaders. I [22:31] want to say thank you uh to some of the [22:33] folks who are here today. I definitely [22:35] want to say thank you. So, in the next [22:37] coming uh days, uh we will present uh [22:39] some uh some some language around [22:41] ordinance language. Um, I want to say [22:43] thank you to uh W St. Paul, W one, [22:46] council member Anika Buouie, who's here [22:47] today. I want to say thank you to W [22:49] three council member Sar Jo who's here [22:51] today and the rest of the members of our [22:52] city council who are poised to introduce [22:55] this language in St. Paul in very short [22:57] order. And I certainly want to say uh [23:00] thank you to our city attorney Lindseay [23:02] Olsen who has taken the lead in drafting [23:06] uh this uh in in drafting these [23:08] ordinances. Uh, and a big thank you to [23:10] uh, Professor Megan Walsh at the Gun [23:13] Violence Prevention Law Clinic at the [23:14] University of Minnesota uh, who has [23:16] helped us make sure that this ordinance [23:18] uh, that this ordinance language is well [23:20] written. Again, not just for St. Paul, [23:22] but for all of the cities uh, that are [23:24] here. Thank you all for coming out. [23:26] We're happy to take any questions. [23:27] >> Have any of the mayors communicated with [23:29] House Republicans, the public safety [23:31] chair in the House basically said he [23:33] doesn't support repealing preemption [23:35] law? Um I would imagine if somebody [23:37] wants to speak more specifically to this [23:39] um I know a number of us have spoken [23:41] specifically to uh many leaders of the [23:44] legislature who represent us. Um and [23:46] that's why we have to take action at the [23:48] local level uh to be able to say one [23:51] we're not willing to accept no change [23:53] whatsoever and if uh the if some of the [23:55] leaders who hold the gables in this [23:56] space and again I want to say we [23:58] appreciate and support the work of [23:59] Governor Walls who has called for a [24:01] special session. We appreciate those [24:03] legislators who are support who are [24:04] supporting that call. But if there are [24:06] going to be folks who hold gables in [24:07] this building who say we're not going to [24:09] do anything different as a result of [24:11] seeing children uh being murdered in our [24:13] schools, well, that's not acceptable. [24:15] That's why our cities have to act. And [24:17] frankly, that's why we have to have a [24:19] conversation that goes beyond the walls [24:21] of this building uh to outline the [24:23] absurdity. [24:25] If the basics like saying every gun has [24:28] to have a serial number, if there are [24:31] people who we entrust with gavvels in [24:32] the state capital who would stand in the [24:35] way of saying every gun has to have a [24:36] serial number or we're not going to [24:39] allow assault rifles in Teddy Bear Park. [24:42] If there are folks who stand in the way [24:43] of that, we have to have a public [24:44] conversation about that absurdity. [24:48] >> Do you do you have any concerns that if [24:50] they were to repeal the preemption law, [24:52] what would stop say a rural municipality [24:54] loosening gun restrictions saying, you [24:56] know, and I don't know from legal aspect [24:58] if that would be allowed, but what would [25:01] could this potentially have a [25:02] counterproductive effect in some places? [25:04] >> Council member Don already said it. Um, [25:06] our preference would be statewide [25:08] action. Our preference would be a [25:10] national coalition to do the things that [25:12] the vast and overwhelming majority of [25:14] motans want. Uh, and so this is not a [25:18] perfect solution. Uh, this is not any of [25:21] our ideal solution. This is where we are [25:24] because of inaction by some of the folks [25:26] in this building who hold gables. This [25:28] is where we are because when the [25:30] governor made a simple statement that we [25:32] want a special session to do something [25:33] about this, there are folks right here [25:35] in this building who decided to be [25:37] obstructionist where this is concerned. [25:39] Uh so yes, the the proposals that we're [25:41] bringing forward and the the mechanism [25:43] that we're bringing forward is far from [25:44] a perfect solution, but we have to do we [25:47] all have to do what we're able to do. [25:49] That includes the legislators, the [25:51] legislators who work in this building [25:53] and we know that that includes mayors [25:54] and city leaders across the state as [25:56] well. [25:59] >> Thank you all for being here. Oh, did [26:01] you have a question? [26:01] >> I'm sorry. I was just going to ask um so [26:03] there's people who will just say [26:04] generally that that current gun laws are [26:08] not enforced um not enforced enough. [26:11] What What do you say in response to [26:12] that? [26:13] >> There's so many excuses. [26:15] >> There's so many excuses. Um, what I say [26:18] in response to that is children in a [26:22] school, in a church, I mean, how many [26:24] layers of unacceptable should this be? [26:26] Children in a school in a church praying [26:30] had bullets rain down them. A hundred in [26:33] a minute [26:35] through a stained glass window. How many [26:38] layers of how many layers of stop it do [26:40] we have to do we have to uh go through? [26:43] And every one of our cities does every [26:45] single thing that we can every single [26:46] thing that we can figure out uh to stop [26:48] and to prevent gun violence in our [26:50] communities. Every one of our police [26:52] departments is is on the streets all day [26:54] every day pulling uh ghost guns off out [26:57] of our community uh trying to uh solve [26:59] crimes uh trying to hold people [27:00] accountable for firing guns. And every [27:02] single one of those police chiefs that [27:04] we represent would tell you that their [27:06] work is impacted by the actions and more [27:08] importantly the inactions that happen at [27:10] the state capital and in Washington DC. [27:13] So what I think we're here today to say [27:15] is we're tired of excuses for inaction. [27:17] We're tired of covering up for for for [27:21] simple things that we all that actually [27:23] the vast majority of people who live [27:24] outside of this building all agree on. [27:27] And we have to be willing to take [27:28] action. And what we're saying is as [27:30] mayors, we're not even going to sit [27:32] anymore and hope that somebody else [27:34] takes action. We're going to do [27:35] something. Thank you all for being here.