Who will stand up for our children? Since the shooting at Annunciation Church almost four months ago, we’ve heard a lot of noise and seen little action. Thankfully, our elected officials at City Hall decided they could not remain seated.

Mayor Carter, along with the City Attorney and the City Council, created an ordinance to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, keep guns away from our libraries and rec centers and put safety limits on ghost guns. The policy goes into effect upon repeal of preemption, a 40 year-old MN state statute that denies local governments the right to decide how firearms are regulated in their communities.

These courageous elected officials did their homework to create a legal policy that also amplifies their values. To wait for a group of intractable state legislators to prioritize children’s safety over guns was not acceptable to them. Angry opposition and threats of lawsuits did not obscure their vision of a future free of gun violence for our children.

When a smoking ban for bars and restaurants was proposed by the St. Paul City Council in the early 2000s, people were in an uproar. Did the sky fall once it was enforced? Do we miss secondhand smoke? Without a local government pushing for change despite enraged opposition, our gathering spots would still be unhealthy. When state lawmakers hesitate to act, it is often city governments that shake things up. St. Paul is sending a message to the MN Legislature. Enough! Repeal firearm preemption or pass gun safety legislation.

The tenets of this new ordinance are based on common sense. Nobody needs weapons of war on our streets. Children should be able to play basketball at the rec center and do their homework at the library away from firearms. We have no need for ghost guns that are untraceable and thus a weapon of choice among criminals.

The changes set in place by this ordinance allow us to envision a safer life for our children without undue burdens on responsible gun owners. Thank you to the former city officials for bringing us smoke-free air even when faced with angry threats from residents. Thank you to the current Mayor, City Attorney, and City Council for trying to bring us bullet-free spaces even while opposing voices cling to policy that no longer serves our present reality. We admire your bravery.

St. Paul Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense