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Moms Demand Action member urges Lakeville council to support state ban on assault weapons and high‑capacity magazines
Summary
Brian Cohen, representing nearly 500 local Moms Demand Action members, asked the Lakeville City Council to back state legislation banning assault weapons and high‑capacity magazines, citing recent shootings and national data on firearm deaths among children.
During the public comment period at the Oct. 6 Lakeville City Council meeting, Brian Cohen identified himself as a Lakeville resident and said he was speaking on behalf of nearly 500 local Moms Demand Action members. Cohen urged the mayor and council members to convey constituent support for state legislation that would ban assault weapons and high‑capacity magazines.
Cohen stressed that his group is "not anti‑gun, we are anti‑gun violence," and told the council that firearms are now the leading cause of death for children ages 1–18 in communities across Minnesota. He referred to recent mass shootings and local tragedies, listing incidents that he said underscored the urgency of action, and described a three‑leg approach his organization supports for reducing gun violence: prevention (community policing, mental‑health services, secure storage), detection (risk orders, other interventions) and mitigation of harm (policies to reduce the lethality of incidents).
Cohen asked Lakeville officials to use their regular meetings with state legislators to share constituent concerns and to support state legislation banning assault weapons and high‑capacity magazines. He cited polling figures presented to the council, saying roughly 64% of Minnesotans supported such a ban as of October and that support had grown with endorsements from faith leaders, health professionals and coalitions.
The mayor acknowledged Cohen's remarks; no council action on the request was recorded during the meeting. Council members did not take any immediate position in response during the public comment period.
What was said (selected quote): "We are not anti gun. We are anti gun violence... We urge you, our mayor, and council members to support legislation that bans assault weapon bans and high capacity magazines." 'Brian Cohen, lake resident (public comment)
The council moved on after public comment to ceremonial and agenda items; the transcript shows no formal motion or vote related to Cohen's request during the Oct. 6 meeting.
