St. Paul, Minn. - The state of Minnesota is mourning the loss of three Burnsville first responders - Matthew Ruge, Paul Elmstrand, and Adam Finseth - who were tragically killed in a shooting over the weekend. In response to the devastating incident, Governor Tim Walz has emphasized the urgent need for policymakers to take action to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

The shooter, Shannon Gooden, 38, barricaded himself in his rented Burnsville home with his girlfriend and seven children, where the fatal shooting took place. Gooden, who was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammo due to a past conviction, was heavily armed despite legal restrictions.

Governor Walz has called for legislative measures to enhance Minnesota's gun safety laws, citing the need to address issues such as safe storage of firearms and the regulation of "ghost guns." Emphasizing the importance of preventing unauthorized access to firearms, Walz expressed interest in penalizing individuals who provide guns to those prohibited from possessing them.

Last year, the Minnesota legislature made strides in gun safety by expanding background checks for most gun transfers and implementing a "red flag" law to temporarily remove access to firearms for individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. However, further actions, such as increasing penalties for illegal firearm transfers and mandatory reporting of lost or stolen guns, still require attention.

Advocates and lawmakers are set to convene on Wednesday to advocate for additional gun safety measures in the state this year, as the community continues to mourn the loss of the fallen first responders and rally for change in the wake of the tragic incident.