Vice President JD Vance is heading to Minneapolis Wednesday to meet with victims of last week’s mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church.
Usha Vance, the vice president’s wife, will join him. The two plan to “hold a series of private meetings to convey condolences” to victims and their families, per CBS News.
Two children were killed and 21 — mostly children — were injured on Aug. 27 when a shooter opened fire at Annunciation Catholic Church during a school Mass.
Two children are still in the hospital as of Tuesday night. One is in critical condition.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said after the shooting, “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying.”
Vance criticized Frey’s response with a post on X.
“It is shocking to me that so many left wing politicians attack the idea of prayer in response to a tragedy,” Vance wrote.
“Literally no one thinks prayer is a substitute for action,” he posted. “We pray because our hearts are broken and we believe that God is listening.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said on Tuesday he wants a special session to vote on a gun control package. This would include a ban on assault weapons.
Several mayors met on Tuesday to call on state lawmakers to address gun violence. They also want a law changed that prohibits cities from passing their own gun reforms.
Rob Doar, the senior vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, said he doesn’t believe new gun control proposals will pass.
“I understand the need to look at potential gaps in the systems,” Doar said. “But it seems like this is being used as a mechanism to enact a much larger, broader gun control agenda with many items that have nothing to do with the tragedy.”
