More Than 200 Volunteers with Minnesota Moms Demand Action and the Everytown Survivor Network Urge Legislators to Oppose Dangerous Gun Bills at Annual Advocacy Day

ST. PAUL, Minn. – More than 200 volunteers with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the Everytown Survivor Network, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, met with their representatives today and urged them to oppose dangerous bills introduced this session, including Stand Your Ground and permitless carry proposals—the latter of which could force Minnesota elementary schools and colleges to allow hidden, loaded handguns on their premises. Both H 238, which would create a Stand Your Ground Law, and H 188, which would allow people to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public places without a permit or safety training, are scheduled to be heard in committee Wednesday.

“Once again, Minnesota moms, gun violence survivors, and hundreds of Minnesotans have stood up against dangerous gun bills,” said Marit Brock, volunteer chapter leader with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “We are thankful for the opportunity to voice our concerns about bills that would hurt our children, families, and communities, and we won’t stop speaking out – the safety of our state is on the line.”

“As a daughter of a parent who was shot and killed, I know all too well the devastating effects of gun violence on families,” said Everytown Survivor Network member Sa’Lesha Beeks, whose mother, Birdell Beeks, was shot and killed while sitting in her car with her granddaughter on Minneapolis’ north side in May 2016. “Our representatives in St. Paul have a responsibility to protect everyone, and we demand they do so by opposing these dangerous bills. If they don’t, we will find legislators who will.”