Minnesota gun control advocates are calling for “gun reform” in the wake of Saturday’s assassination of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home, and the attempted murder of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their residence.
According to Northern News Now, there was also a deadly shooting in downtown Duluth Sunday, adding to the mayhem. Joan Peterson, co-president of the Minnesota Chapter of Brady United Against Gun Violence, declared this is the time to have a conversation about gun control.
This comes as authorities have charged Vance Boelter with the Hortman slayings and the shootings of Hoffman and his wife. He was apprehended Sunday following an intensive manhunt. He allegedly posed as a police officer when he went to the homes of both lawmakers, in Champlin and nearby Brooklyn Park.
In the aftermath of the shootings, there has been much conjecture about a motive. It is known that Boelter was appointed to a workforce development advisory board by both current Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and former Gov. Mark Dayton, both Democrats, however, reports from major news agencies have either downplayed or completely omitted this detail.
The Minnesota Star Tribune went to great lengths Sunday to “fact check” many of the early assertions by various sources about the suspect and potential motives. The story debunked a claim that the suspect’s wife once interned for Walz.
The newspaper also said there is no evidence that Hortman and Hoffman were targeted because of their votes to strip state health care from illegal immigrants.
According to NPR, investigators reportedly found “No Kings” flyers in the fake police vehicle which the suspect allegedly used. These flyers refer to demonstrations which occurred Saturday across the country against President Donald Trump. They allege the Trump administration is pushing oligarchy.
Meanwhile, NBC News reported that the suspect apparently left a notebook containing an alleged “hit list” of politicians and abortion rights proponents.
Investigators reportedly recovered three AK-47 rifles and a 9mm pistol, all apparently owned by the suspect.
Sen. Hoffman and his wife are reportedly both recovering from their wounds. One report said Hoffman was hit nine times and his wife suffered eight wounds.
Minnesota lawmakers have attempted to ban so-called “assault weapons.”
