ST. PAUL (Minn.) – Anguish and fear have erupted following a violent weekend that saw five people injured and two killed in St. Paul.
Two separate celebrations of life were opened to the elements by someone who set fire to them. One was for Devon Scott (15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death at Harding High School).
Residents living near shooting locations are often anxious.
One resident said, “There are just too many young children running around with guns. I just don’t get it.”
Troy Kennedy, 37, of St. Paul and Larry Jiles Jr., 34, were both killed on Saturday. Jiles was also known as “Chef Hot Hands”.
After the second incident, Melvin Carter, a visibly shaken mayor, spoke. Three teens sustained non-life-threatening injuries in a drive by shooting at a Scott Wellstone Center service. The shooting took place less than 24 hours later. Carter issued a new call for gun restrictions.
Carter stated that “we continue to see some common sense gun violence prevention Reforms that the vast majority Minnesotans and vast majority Americans support.” “Any celebration, any community organization, any space, can be violated in this heartbreaking manner.”
Gov. Tim Walz tweeted, “The gun violence in St. Paul is unacceptable.”
Four major gun proposals are currently making their way through Congress. Two of the most important are a stronger background check and red flag law. Legislators are also facing a stricter requirement for gun storage and a bill that requires the reporting of stolen handguns.
Rob Doar, of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, says that none of these measures would have prevented the weekend’s tragedy. However, he believes this year could see the passing of one or more of these bills.
“I believe it’s probable that some of these bill will be passed. Doar stated that the Senate’s narrow margin will be a determining factor. “These particular measures have not received the same strong commitments from the Greater Minnesota senators as they have on other controversial items that have been moved forward.”
Doar is the face against Minnesota gun control measures. The caucus has a lot of power, so for him to claim that there’s a chance of one these bills passing after all the years of being introduced but going nowhere is quite an accomplishment.
What must happen in the DFL-controlled legislature to allow one of these to be passed? It would be necessary for the Senate and House to retain their very small DFL majority. With just one vote, the Senate majority could not have been narrower. Despite all odds, the DFL held St. Paul together for two months. This is why opponents such as Doar admit that this could be the year.
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