Twin Cities mayors say cities should be allowed to pass their own gun laws

Local officials across the Twin Cities want the ability to pass citywide gun reforms if lawmakers fail to enact statewide or federal bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

The mayors of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Stillwater, Vadnais Heights, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Richfield and Columbia Heights made the request Tuesday afternoon from the Minnesota State Capitol.

"If state and federal officials are either unwilling or unable to make the necessary change, give us – as mayors of these cities – the ability to do it ourselves," Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said. "Right now, we are preempted from virtually any kind of gun reform in municipalities, but we are impacted by it."

Gov. Tim Walz announced Tuesday morning that he plans to call a special session on gun control in