The Minnesota State Senate moved 14 out of 17 bills related to gun violence prevention further into legislation, including a ban on assault weapons, last week. This comes as the Senate and House debate addressing gun violence prevention.

The Senate held an almost seven-hour judiciary and public safety hearing on bills relating to gun violence prevention.

The bills passed included a ban on semi-automatic weapons, the establishment of an office of Gun violence prevention and school safety specialists.

At the meeting, victims of gun violence, gun rights advocates and the Mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, came to give testimony.

Mike Moyski, the father of Harper Moyski, who died in the Annunciation Catholic school shooting, spoke in favor of an assault weapon ban that could prevent future tragedies.

“On the day of the shooting, our daughter was at church, one of the safest places a child should be,” Moyski said. “When someone intent on killing chooses a weapon specifically designed to fire rapidly and cause catastrophic damage, the weapon absolutely matters.”

Jonathan Haumpton, a Minnesota resident, said a ban on assault weapons would be too broad and would not aid gun violence prevention.

“We are here today because of an immense tragedy, tragedy with which first responders and parents. Their heartbreak is palpable and is felt in this room,” Haumpton said. “This legislation perpetuates the tragedy by providing neither deserved justice nor answers. Blanket enforcement or bans do not solve that invisibility at all.”

During the meeting, some Republican senators said they worried a ban on assault weapons would override the Second Amendment. During the hearing of the bill to ban assault weapons, Sen. Michael Holmstrom (R-Buffalo) made those worries heard.

“The Second Amendment is created specifically to defend our rights against a tyrannical government that looks to strip away our rights. That is the reason I defend these bills, it is not about hunting, though that is an ancillary benefit,” Holstrom said. “They’ve been legal since the founding of our nation for this reason.”

In an interview with Sen. Doron Clark (DFL-Minneapolis), Clark said while there should be a focus on mental health, he also believes guns like AR-15s should still be banned.

“We need to have increased mental health funding,” Clark said. “We need to make sure our schools are safe and we need to make sure that weapons of war are limited to weapons of war and that we have sensible limits on the size of magazine capacity.”

The passed bills will move to a different Senate committee for approval and then to the Senate floor. Clark said the bills that make it through this process will most likely be moved into one large bill for the sake of ease.

This comes after multiple stalling actions for a ban on assault rifles in Minnesota.

Before the legislative session, Gov. Tim Walz attempted to call a special session on gun control with a specific focus on banning assault weapons, the Minnesota Daily reported. House Republicans did not sign the final special session bill.

In early March, a gun violence prevention bill that was introduced in the House Education Committee, which focused on gun safety in schools, stalled, the Minnesota Daily reported.

Leah Kondes, a president for the Moms Demand Action Minnesota Chapter, said it can be frustrating when the issue is so polarized.

“I think we’re always concerned whenever it seems like people are entrenched in their point of view as to why our legislators aren’t representing that point of view,” Kondes said. “So that’s very frustrating, but we will keep going until it’s done.”

Passing future gun prevention legislation could be difficult. The Minnesota Senate is divided, with the Democratic Party holding a one-seat majority, while the Minnesota House is tied 67-67.

Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL-St.Paul) said the issues of gun violence prevention will require Republicans and Democrats working together.

“I don’t know what more of a compromise there would be regarding some of these proposals, and in general, my republican colleagues have just said they don’t support taking that kind of action at all,” Pinto said. “But we’ll continue to talk and we want to make sure Minnesotans continue to lift up the issue.”

Kondes, who went to the Protect MN Advocacy Day on March 12, said while the issue around gun control is frustrating, it is important for people to speak out.

“So we will see what happens. It’s not over until it’s over. But yes, we would encourage all legislators, regardless of party, to prioritize the health and safety of children,” Kondes said. “The kids didn’t ask to be here. We brought them here, and it’s our job to keep them safe.”