In October 2025, Minnesota lawmakers and community members met in South Minneapolis to discuss issues facing the state, with a focus on gun violence prevention. The meeting followed incidents over the summer, including the deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman and an incident at Annunciation Catholic Church. These events prompted renewed attention to public safety. Officials, advocates, and medical professionals discussed measures to address gun violence. The information shared will be considered in future legislative discussions.
One legislative measure discussed was the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law, also known as the ‘red flag’ law, enacted in 2023. This law allows law enforcement and family members to ask courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals considered a risk to themselves or others. After more than a year, officials report that the law has helped protect residents. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has a specialist to assist families concerned about firearm safety.
Traffic safety was also addressed. A new camera pilot program has started at five high-risk intersections in Minneapolis. The cameras are located near schools and areas with frequent crashes. The program began issuing warnings in October and will start issuing citations on November 1, 2025. Lawmakers are reviewing data from the pilot to decide on possible expansion. They also note the importance of privacy protections for drivers…