For the first time in Minnesota's history, members of the public visiting the state capitol building in St. Paul will undergo weapons screening.
The new system is a result of an executive order by Governor Tim Walz, and follows the assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the shooting of another lawmaker and his wife last year.
The head of the Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Christina Bogojevic says most states already use some type of screening at their capitol entrances. She says Minnesota has been among the states with the least restrictive entry policies:
"In the past, we wouldn't know if someone was carrying an illegal or a prohibited item," says Bogojevic. "If they hid it under a jacket, we wouldn't know that unless it was used."
The screening machines will be located at all four public entrance doors. Bogojevic also stressed the new screening policy is not a weapons ban.
Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson says all four public entrances will have weapons screening systems.
"It is very common for other state capitals around the country to have weapons screenings, so this is nothing out of the ordinary," Jacobson adds.
The new system is a result of an executive order by Governor Tim Walz, and follows the assassination of former House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the shooting of another lawmaker and his wife last year.
An independent study showed Minnesota has been among the states with the least restrictive entry policies at the capitol buildings.
The new policy takes effect Tuesday when the legislative session begins.