In response to the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School, Children’s Minnesota, along with over 60 organizations that care for and advocate on behalf of Minnesota children, sent a letter to the Governor and Minnesota Legislative leaders. The letter is a call to action urging them to pass common sense gun legislation and make critical investments in mental health.
Read the full letter below:
Dear Governor Walz and Legislative Leaders,
Today we are reaching out to you as a community in mourning. Our hearts are with the children, families, educators and community members directly impacted by the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School.
This act of gun violence has now been added to a devastatingly long list of horrific events that have harmed children in our communities and in others across the country. Gun violence remains the number one killer of kids in the United States and we cannot let that continue.
As organizations that care for and advocate on behalf of Minnesota children we are asking you to come together in a special session to address this public health crisis. We need elected officials to take a layered approach to this issue by both passing common sense gun legislation and making critical investments in the mental health supports our community needs.
The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. Our mourning and heartbreak must drive us to act. Please join together in protecting the children of Minnesota.
Allina Health
American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
AspireMN
Beyond Early Initiatives LLC
Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities
Change Inc.
Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota
Children’s Minnesota
CLUES – Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio
Divine institute
Doctors for Early Childhood
EdAllies
Education Minnesota
EVOLVE Family Services
Face to Face Health & Counseling Inc.
Fairview Health Services
Fernbrook Family Center
First Tee Minnesota
Fraser
Gillette Children’s
Growing Sage
Guns Down Love Up
Healthy Community Initiative
Hennepin County
Hennepin Healthcare System
Inspire Change Clinic
JFCS Minneapolis
Minneapolis Youth
Coordinating Board
Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians
Minnesota Alliance With Youth
Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health
Minnesota Athletic Trainers’ Association
Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians
Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Physicians
Minnesota Child Care Association
Minnesota Children’s Museum
Minnesota Medical Association
Minnesota Prenatal to Three Coalition
Minnesota School Social Workers Association
Minnesota Social Service Association
Minnesota Society for Clinical Social Work
Minnesota Society of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Minnesota Youth Council
Moms Demand Action Minnesota
National Association of Social Workers, Minnesota Chapter
New Horizon Academy
Nexus Family Healing
Northern Voices
Northside Achievement Zone
Pediatric Surgical Associates, Ltd.
Pine Pals Child Care Centers, Bemidji
PrairieCare
Rise Early Learning Center
RiseUp Partnership
S.T.A.N.D. Up Minnesota Parents United
Sheltering Arms Foundation
St. David’s Developmental & Therapeutic Services
State of Minnesota, Office of Ombudsperson for Families
Students Demand Action Minnesota
The Mental Health Collaboration Hub
Think Small
Volunteers of America, Minnesota and Wisconsin
Washburn Center for Children
WomenVenture
YWCA Minneapolis
Youable Emotional Health
