Moms Demand Action asks Apple Valley council to back assault-weapon and high-capacity-magazine ban, offers resolution

At the Oct. 9 Apple Valley City Council meeting, Patty Matthews, speaking on behalf of Moms Demand Action volunteers in Apple Valley and Dakota County, urged the council to support legislation banning assault-style firearms and high-capacity magazines and to adopt a resolution she delivered to the city on Oct. 3.

"Let me be clear: we are not anti-gun; we are anti-gun violence," Matthews said, identifying herself as a "responsible gun owner and a gun-violence prevention advocate" and saying she represents more than 200 local volunteers and more than 2,500 across Dakota County.

Matthews cited recent mass shootings and statistics she described as evidence of a growing public-health crisis. She told the council the difference in "firepower directly affects the number of lives impacted in a shooting," and urged the council to share constituent concern with state legislators during the council's regular legislative outreach in January. She said she had sent the council a resolution for its consideration on Oct. 3 but the transcript and meeting record do not show the council taking action on that resolution at the Oct. 9 meeting.

Matthews referenced several elected officials and incidents in summarizing national and statewide trends; she also called for a broader set of measures including improved mental-health care, safe storage practices and addressing online radicalization. No city ordinance or other local policy change was proposed by council members during the Oct. 9 meeting in direct response to Matthews' testimony.

The council received the public comment during the audience participation portion of the meeting; the record shows the comment was entered into the public record but no motion or formal city action was taken on the resolution or legislative request at that meeting.