A week of public prayer began Wednesday at the Minnesota state capitol in St. Paul, as faith leaders from across the state ask lawmakers for a ban on assault weapons.
Those faith leaders are taking their power to the State Capitol steps for the next seven days with hundreds of clergy members signing a letter to Governor Tim Walz demanding a special session on guns that would include a ban on assault-style weapons.
The letter has been signed by faith leaders from 60 of the state’s 87 counties.
Reverend Ingrid Rasmussen is with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.
"That is a visible sign of the breadth and depth of our shared moral concern in this moment," she said. "Over 750 clergy are clear - this is not a partisan issue anymore. This is a moral one."
That is a proposal the governor and DFL leaders have supported, but so far there's no consensus between them and Republican leaders. Or even all of the DFL party, at this point. Walz has been calling for a special session to address gun safety and prevent mass violence ever since the tragic shooting at Annuniation Church in south Minneapolis in August.
Rasmussen says 30-minute prayers sessions will be held outside the Capitol at noon for the next six days as they wait for action. Each day two to three congregations will lead short, public prayer gatherings to honor victims and survivors of gun violence, pray for communities living in fear, and to call on lawmakers to act.
On Saturday, October 11, the service will take place virtually via Zoom, allowing participation from faith communities statewide.
The seven-day event was organized by clergy, including Pastor Rasmussen and Doug Pagitt of Vote Common Good, and includes multiple denominations.