Firearm safety ordinance

Lifelong resident argued local leaders must act when the state fails and urged a yes vote.

Clinical psychologist described the psychological toll of gun violence on individuals and communities and urged passage.

Mother whose children were at Annunciation described racing to the school and begged the Council to pass the ordinance.

Grandfather of Fletcher Merkel, a child killed at Annunciation Church, urged passage of the ordinance, describing his family's grief.

Lifelong Edina resident argued the ordinance is preempted, raises Second Amendment concerns, invites costly litigation, and criminalizes law-abiding residents; asked the Council to reject it.

Mom whose children survived Annunciation and leader of the new Edina Moms Demand Action branch (365 members) urged the Council to pass the ordinance.

Argued guns were more widely available a century ago without school shootings, and that societal factors — not gun availability — are the real problem.

Pastor whose congregation included children at Annunciation urged passage, saying the ordinance addresses negligent storage and community safety as an act of care.

Father who lost a daughter to suicide by gun opposed the ordinance as a waste of time and money, urging investment in mental health instead.

Attorney and former Moms Demand Action state leader cited data on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines and urged passage.

Argued the Second Amendment's language is clear, that the Council would violate the Constitution, and blamed the Annunciation shooter's ideology rather than firearms.

Nine-year Annunciation alumna described receiving the shooting alert and begged the Council to pass the ordinance.

Argued people, not guns, commit violence and urged focus on accountability, mental health, and red flag laws instead.

Attorney and mom described the Uvalde shooting and urged adoption as a necessary first step against weapons of war.

Physician and father who sold his own firearm after Annunciation urged adoption of common-sense limits.

Edina High School sophomore with Students Demand Action described lockdown drills and urged the Council to act.

Educator and parent described running lockdown drills with preschoolers and urged passage.

Edina High senior described a recent lockdown at school and urged passage, saying gun violence is a human issue, not a political one.

Pediatric trauma surgeon on duty during Annunciation described treating the wounded children and urged passage.

Sophomore who learned of the shooting in math class said she felt unsafe in her city for the first time and urged passage.

Pastor to Fletcher Merkel's family described the aftermath and urged passage as a modest, common-sense step.

Her niece was killed at Sandy Hook; the Edina educator urged the Council to act so no more children die.

Mother of an Annunciation third grader described her daughter's PTSD and asked the Council to pass the ordinance.

Twenty-one-year Edina High science teacher described lockdown drills and a student's trauma, urging the Council to act.

Edina teacher and Students Demand Action advisor cited her family's experience with assault weapons in Liberia's civil war and urged passage.

Pediatric critical care doctor described treating gunshot children and urged passage.

Brown University alumnus reflected on lives lost to gun violence and asked for a gun safety training requirement for buyers.

State representative shared constituent accounts of the Annunciation trauma, noted her name was on the Hortman shooter's list, and vowed to work on gun legislation at the Capitol.

Father whose daughter's cousin was wounded at Annunciation described comforting his children and urged the Council to pass the ordinance.

Mom of two and Moms Demand Action volunteer said her eight-year-old now questions whether school is safe; urged a brave yes vote.

Retired scientist rejected the Second Amendment argument against limiting weapons of war and urged passage.

Vietnam veteran with Veterans for Peace described witnessing what high-powered rounds do to children and urged the city to ban weapons of war.

Physician and Be Smart lead emphasized secure storage and urged adoption as an evidence-based step.

Second Amendment supporter with limits: supports sport and hunting firearms but said military-style weapons like the AR-15 go too far.

Mother whose friend's children were at Annunciation implored the Council to regulate assault weapons and ghost guns to protect kids.

Parent who has lived in ten countries called gun violence uniquely American and urged passage, rejecting the mental-health framing.

Compared the ordinance to Minneapolis's smoking ban — one person's right shouldn't endanger others — and urged passage.

Mother of young children described terror about her son starting kindergarten and asked the Council to act.

Argued the ordinance is useless locally and efforts should go to the state level, citing Japan's strict gun controls.

Described her own anxiety around public spaces after mass shootings and urged the Council to use the tools available, even imperfect ones.

Caller noted the Council lacks legal authority under current law and suggested passing a supporting proclamation and pressuring state officials instead.