Kelly Morrison (DFL) was elected in 2024 to be the Washington Congressional representative for Minnesota's third district. The former state senator and state representative came into politics after a career as a doctor. Morrison is an OB-GYN who practiced in Minnesota for over 20 years, a career that gives her some unique insight into the issue of gun violence.
Thursday, Morrison weighed in on the tragedy at Annunciation Church where two children were shot and killed, and 17 other people were seriously injured when Robin Westman opened fire through church windows during a Catholic Mass Wednesday morning.
Rep. Morrison tells Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News that right now is the time to start laying the work for policy change in America.
"You know, as a doctor, I'm a big believer in gathering evidence and using the best available information to set policy," says Morrison. "One of the things that we need to do is to study gun violence in America more to help us come up with those solutions."
Morrison, who replaced former Congressman Dean Phillips in that district, is interested in continuing a practice Phillips spearheaded reaching out to Republicans and using the Problem Solver's Caucus to try and solve key issues in a bipartisan group.
Morrison says she will continue to reach across the aisle to get get more members of Congress to get unified on the issue of gun reform. But she's also sounding the alarm on the country's mental health crisis, and adds it's time for state leaders everywhere to double down on their investment into the issue.
"We all are impacted by our mental health crisis," Morrison adds. "I don't know a single person who hasn't been personally impacted by it, so we need to be investing in research and figuring out best practices to help people. And again, there's not going to be one thing that is going to solve it."
Morrison also says the "hyper-partisanship" this generation of kids are being exposed to won't help the issue going forward, and it's time for some " serious change."
Authorities are continuing to work to learn the motive of the shooter who fired into a Minneapolis Catholic school's church during Mass.
Officials identified the shooter as Robin Westman, 23, and said Westman was found dead in the parking lot from what they believe was a self-inflicted gunshot.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said authorities were searching a vehicle in the parking lot believed to be the shooter's and three associated residences in the area. They also were scouring content that Westman allegedly scheduled to be released on YouTube and has since been removed from the platform.