1. United States
2. Letter

**Urgent Action Needed: Ban Semiautomatic Rifles and High-Capacity Magazines** The recent tragedy at Annunciation Church has shaken our community to its core. As your constituent, I implore you to take immediate action to ban semiautomatic rifles and high-capacity magazines without exception. This is not a request made lightly, but one born from the heart-wrenching reality of what these weapons can do in the wrong hands. On that fateful day, 21 people were injured, and two innocent children lost their lives. Among the victims was 9-year-old Vivian St. Clair, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Her mother, Malia Kimbrell, bravely spoke at Hennepin Healthcare, recounting the horrific events and joining the call for this crucial ban. Malia Kimbrell's powerful statement yesterday cuts to the heart of this issue: "And I will invite you to come to my living room and insist that you hold Vivian's hand while we do her dressing changes each night as she cries the entire time and you can look her in the eye while you cleanse her bullet wounds and you can tell her to her face why you are opposed to keeping her safe." The devastation caused by these weapons extends far beyond the immediate victims. Families are torn apart, communities are left in fear, and the sense of safety in our places of worship – where people should feel most secure – has been shattered. The human cost is immeasurable, and the trauma inflicted will last a lifetime for many. By banning semiautomatic rifles and high-capacity magazines, we can significantly reduce the potential for mass casualties in such attacks. These weapons have no place in civilian hands and serve no purpose other than to inflict maximum damage in minimal time. Their continued availability poses an unacceptable risk to public safety. I urge you to introduce or support legislation that will implement this ban immediately. Every day we delay, we risk another tragedy. The families of Annunciation Church, and indeed all of your constituents, are looking to you for leadership in this critical moment. Let us honor the victims by taking decisive action to prevent future atrocities. The time for thoughts and prayers has long passed. We need concrete action now. Please, be the voice for those who can no longer speak for themselves and for the children who deserve to grow up in a safer world. Ban semiautomatic rifles and high-capacity magazines without exception, and let this be the legacy that emerges from this darkness – a commitment to the safety and well-being of all our citizens.