Minnesota House, Senate observe moments of silence in wake of Burnsville shooting

ST. PAUL, Minn. (GRAY) – The state of Minnesota grappled with the loss of three first responders in a Burnsville shooting Sunday. As lawmakers returned to the state capitol at the start of the week, they brought with them an air of respect and gratitude.

Several said the tragedy struck close to home.

“When we really think about law enforcement, it’s not some obscure personality. It’s people that live right next door to us, and they’ve taken an oath to protect us,” said Senator Warren Limmer (R – Maple Grove).

Limmer said his son knew one of the slain officers in college.

“My son and daughter-in-law went to college, at the University of Northwestern, with one of the officers,” Limmer said.

Perhaps no one was more visibly impacted than the delegation of lawmakers from Burnsville. Senators Jim Carlson (DFL – Eagan) and Lindsey Port (DFL – Burnsville) expressed their deeply rooted sorrow on the senate floor.

“These men were our beloved neighbors, who dedicated their lives to the service of others. And they lost their lives, keeping our community and all of us safe,” said Carlson to members of the senate.

Representatives in the House did the same. Both chambers held a moment of silence during the session to honor the first responders. Senator Port spoke about the situation following the adjournment of the floor session.

“We spent time together last night at a vigil in front of the police station and City Hall, several hundred people came,” she said, “That really is a part of Burnsville, we’re a community that leans on each other, and we’ll need that deeply in the next few days.”

Port expressed her sorrow to the first responders as well.

“They lost family over the weekend, so our thoughts are deeply with them. And we are grateful for the support we’ve gotten from around the state,” she said.

While several committees conducted business as usual, one notable hearing was canceled in the wake of the shooting.

The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee was scheduled to hear a bill that would fix the School Resource Officer confusion that arose after a law in 2023. The hearing would have likely been its final committee before heading to the floor for a vote, but it was postponed.

“Given what we experienced together in Burnsville, and what the law enforcement community is experiencing, [I asked law enforcement] if we should pause, and they agreed,” said Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said.

The bill is a top priority for state Republicans, who have fought for urgency on the matter since the first day of session.

The Judiciary Committee meeting was expected to feature heavy stakeholder input from law enforcement, so out of respect for officers across the state, that meeting was called off.

“I think it is right for us to pause. I do anticipate because this has been a priority that we take it up again later this week,” Murphy said.

Republicans like Limmer said that the pause was warranted, given Sunday’s events.

“We’re talking about law enforcement policies. Law enforcement right now has their minds on other things right now, and I think it’s appropriate. Let’s take a pause. Let’s take a step back,” Limmer said.

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