>> Cathy: CHANGES ARE COMING TO SECURITY AT THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL AS VIOLENCE AGAINST LAWMAKERS AND THREATS INCREASE.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HAS THE SCOOP ON THE NEXT STEPS THAT THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO TAKE FOR WEAPONS SCREENINGS AT THE CAPITOL.

>> AFTER THE SHOOTINGS OF LAWMAKERS IN MINNESOTA, THE ADMINISTRATION IS READY TO CALL FOR WEAPONS SCREENINGS AT THE CAPITOL.

>> YES, I THINK IT IS TIME FOR WEAPONS SCREENING OF SOME SORT IN THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN AT THIS JOB SINCE JANUARY 3 #RD OF 2023.

AND WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF UNPRECEDENTED EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> COMMISSIONERS TOLD ME HE IS READY TO RECOMMEND WEAPONS SCREENINGS FOR THE CAPITOL, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT LEGISLATION.

AND THAT IF THE ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS WHAT THE COMMISSIONER REPRESENTS HAS INTENT ON DOING SO, NOT WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE IS JUST A TRAGIC FAILURE AND IT WILL END IN JUST THAT FAILURE.

>> MORE THAN 30 STATES CURRENTLY HAVE CREENINGS, AS WE'VE COVERED, EVEN BEFORE THE ASSASSINATION, MORE LAWMAKERS WERE CLEARLY CARRYING GUNS AT THE CAPITOL, BUT NO ONE KNOWS WHO AND HOW MANY.

NOW, THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO BAN HIGH CAPACITY ASSAULT RIFLES STATEWIDE.

>> THE COMMISSIONER ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR, WHO DECIDED TO COME OUT TO MY HOMETOWN THIS PAST WEEKEND AND DECIDE TO MAKE THE CASE FOR PUTTING IT N THE BALLOT, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, YOU CAN'T JUST SNAP YOUR FINGERS AS THE COMMISSIONER AND UNILATERALLY DECIDE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO INSTALL METAL DETECTORS AND DO WEAPONS SCREENINGS AND EPRIVE PEOPLE OF THEIR STATUTORY AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

>> I THINK TODAY IS STILL LAYING THE GROUNDWORK.

WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE AXTELL GROUP REPORT.

WE'RE CERTAINLY STILL GETTING MORE INFORMATION FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND WE'RE STILL FIELDING QUESTIONS OBVIOUSLY FROM THOSE INTERESTED PARTIES.

BUT AGAIN I AM CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS SAFE AND EVERYONE IS SAFE AT THE CAPITOL AND I THINK NOW IS GOOD TIME TO REALLY GET THOSE DISCUSSIONS STARTED.

>> THIS IS SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND I CAN TELL YOU YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS NOT BECAUSE OF ME OR WHO I AM.

>> FORMER ST.

PAUL POLICE CHIEF TODD AXTELL IS CONDUCTING A SECURITY AUDIT OF THE CAPITOL COMPLEX.

>> FROM THE OUTSET WE UNDERSTOOD THIS PROJECT WOULD BE HIGHLY VISIBLE, DETAILED, AND CERTAINLY DIFFICULT.

>> FOUR BUILDS ARE BEING ASSESSED.

LAWMAKERS WONDERED WHY OTHERS ARE EXCLUDED UNDER THE CONTRACT WITH THE STATE.

>> HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WORK ACROSS THIS CAMPUS.

THAT'S -- THAT'S MISSING THE BOAT.

>> I THINK IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN JUNE THERE WAS SOME URGENCY.

>> EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO REALLY AS ONE THING IN COMMON, AND, EVERYONE, FROM WHATEVER PARTY IT IS, WHATEVER AGENCY THEY WORK IN, EVERYBODY WANTS TO NOT ONLY FEEL SAFE BUT BE SAFE.

>> WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF THREATS, SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THREATS.

WE INVESTIGATE THOSE, WE FOLLOW THROUGH ON THOSE, AND WE'LL PROSECUTE THOSE IF APPROPRIATE.

>> ONE DRAMATIC DEAL REVEALED HERE AT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON CAPITOL AREA SECURITY IS THAT THREATS HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED ALREADY THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR.

>> THE RISE IN THREATS TO MANY ON THIS CAPITOL COMPLEX AND JUST TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE IN 2024 WE LOOKED AT AND INVESTIGATED 19 THREATS IN 2024.

UP TO THIS POINT IN 2025, THERE HAVE BEEN 50 THAT WE'VE MOVED FORWARD WITH.

AND AT THIS POINT THERE HAVE BEEN 13 THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORTH FOR CRIMINAL CHARGES.

>> EACH YEAR, 75,000 PEOPLE TOUR THE CAPITOL, 40,000 STUDENTS, SO THESE DECISIONS IMPACT A LOT F PEOPLE.

>> WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CAPITOL SECURITY WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR ELECTEDS, BUT ALSO THE STAFF ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS, INCLUDING OUR PARTISAN, NONPARTISAN AND AGENCY STAFF, SECURITY GUARDS, TOUR GUIDES, GENERAL MAINTENANCE WORKERS, AND MORE.

>> WE HAVE CONDUCTED SEVERAL ACTIVE SHOOTER OR VIOLENT INTRUDER TRAINING SESSIONS WITH TENANTS AROUND THE CAPITOL COMPLEX.

>> THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE WANTS MORE TRAINING FOR HOW LAWMAKERS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH RESPOND TO A SHOOTER, LIKE THE ONE WHO SHOWED UP AT SEVERAL LAWMAKERS' HOMES THIS YEAR.

>> ONE THING I GUESS I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE THE DEPARTMENT TO CONSIDER WHEN THEY'RE DOING THESE TRAININGS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TRAUMA INFORMED, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE TRAUMA THAT ALL OF US WENT THROUGH.

>> CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY OF NEW SECURITY KIOSKS IN THE SENATE BUILDING, AND BOTH CHAMBERS ARE HIRING NEW SECURITY ERSONNEL AFTER A MAN SNUCK INTO THE CAPITOL AND SENATE CHAMBER NAKED.

>> WE ARE CHECKING DOORS, THE MAINTENANCE WORKERS ARE CHECKING DOORS AS THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOBS.

>> AS THE TEMPERATURE TURNS UP IN POLITICS, SO TOO ARE THE SECURITY CONCERNS [ SHOUTING ] >> DISTURBING COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND DISCUSSION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, INDIVIDUALS AT THE TESTIFYING TABLE MAY BE THREATENED, THEY MAY HOLD BACK THEIR COMMENTS.

[ [ SHOUTING ] >> MEMBERS HAVE BEHAVED IN WAYS FAR MORE OUTRAGEOUS THAN I'VE EVER SEEN ANY MEMBER OF THE