Failure is not an option

I shouldn’t need to write this. And you shouldn’t need to read it. But here we are. As pediatricians, we dedicate ourselves to the well-being of children. Yet, we continue to see them injured by gun violence, and to see them die of those wounds.

Last fall, in just minutes, more than a hundred bullets shattered the windows of Annunciation Church in South Minneapolis. Many children were injured. Two children were killed. And another community was left traumatized by gun violence.

The shooter used a military-style assault weapon with a high-capacity magazine, weapons built to do the most damage to the maximum number of people in the shortest amount of time.

It was this type of weapon that Annunciation families, health care professionals and so many others begged Minnesota lawmakers to ban this past legislative session.

These weapons have appeared in more and more mass shootings in our country, and we have the responsibility to take meaningful steps to protect our children and communities.

But lawmakers didn’t ban these weapons. In fact, the Minnesota House leadership, with the voices of parents just outside the door, declined to call a vote on the issue.

And so even after such profound loss – such profound trauma – here we are. Again. The lack of action this legislative session has left people exhausted. Heartbroken. Hopeless.

I understand those feelings. Surely this community, these families, deserve more.

At Children’s Minnesota, we don’t champion political parties, candidates or platforms. We champion policies that help kids.

Gun violence is not a partisan issue; it is a public health issue. And it must be treated like one. Gun violence is the greatest threat to children’s health – the number one killer of children in the U.S. since 2020.

So, we at Children’s Minnesota will continue to work to prevent it. Continue to educate families. Continue to advocate for policies that reduce harm.

Last September, Children’s Minnesota physician Dr. Rachel Weigert testified at the State Capitol in support of legislation to prohibit assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Reflecting on her experience treating Annunciation students, she said:

“My children, your children, and any child that calls Minnesota home deserves to know that they can stay alive, and safe from gun violence, whether at home, school, church or anywhere in the community.”

I agree.

Our disappointment and grief are understandable, but they cannot be the end of this story.

Progress in public health has always required persistence. Seat belts. Drunk driving laws. Safe sleep education. Vaccines. Change happens because people continue to care, to speak up, and to insist that preventable harm should, in fact, be prevented.

Caring for children after gun violence has harmed them is not enough. Our responsibility to kids begins before an injury.

If you are already part of this work, thank you. If you are not, I hope you will consider joining us.

We cannot live in a world where children being shot is something we simply come to accept.

Failure to protect kids is not an option. We must continue to lift up our collective voice for change.