>> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> Mary: WE'LL TALK PUBLIC SAFETY WITH A GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATE AND SENATE LEADERS LIVE.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

♪ ♪ >> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE ON COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT ENBRIDGE.COM/MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY, "I'M IN."

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: WE CAN BACK TO "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW WE'LL CHAT WITH A MEMBER OF THE GUN OWNERS CAUCUS ABOUT NO-KNOCK WARRANT.

A RETIRING LAWMAKER TALKS ABOUT THE UPS AND DOWNS.

SENATE LEADERS WILL JOIN ME LIVE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

BUT FIRST, PUBLIC SAFETY HAS BEEN ON THE MINDS OF LAWMAKERS AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

ANOTHER POLICE SHOOTING OF A BLACK MAN IN MINNESOTA HAS STUDENTS IN ST. PAUL WALKING OUT OF CLASS AND MARCHING TO THE GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE.

AS AMIR LOCKE'S FAMILY CALLED FOR CHANGE.

>> WE FEEL, AS A FAMILY, THAT IT'S SYSTEMS THAT NEED TO BE KIND OF HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> ANOTHER FAMILY DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT OUR FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

>> Mary: D.F.L.

LAWMAKERS JOINED THE CALL TO RESTRICT THE USE OF MANY NO-KNOCK WARRANT.

>> THESE CHANGES ARE THE VERY LEAST WE CAN DO AFTER WITNESSING THE BOTCHED NO-KNOCK WARRANT THAT LED TO AMIR LOCKE'S MURDER.

>> DEMANDING ACTION.

DEMANDING THAT BEDO SOMETHING TO PREVENT THE NEXT AMIR AND THE NEXT DAUNTE.

I HOPE YOU HEAR THEM AND I HOPE YOU LISTEN TO THEM.

OF >> WE HAVE TO GET CLEAR ON THE FACT THAT POLICE BRUTALITY IS NOT A ISSUE FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

IT IS A ISSUE OR POLICE.

IT IS A ISSUE FOR THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

>> WE CANNOT DOUBLE DOWN ON FAILED POLICIES THAT HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT DECIMATE BLACK, BROWN, AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

WE CANNOT BE FOOLED BY THOSE WHO WOULD TELL US WHITE SUPREMACY THINLY DISGUISED AS WHITE SECURITY.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BACKING OFF ON BAIL OR PUNISHMENT WITH A STEEP RISE IN CRIME.

>> THE CONCERN F MINNESOTA IS TO DEAL WITH THE VIOLENT CRIME UP DEMOCRATEPIDEMIC.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR IN THE NEWS CONTINUALLY.

>> Mary: THE SENATE IS MOVING A VARIETY OF PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS, INCLUDING FUNDING ORE BODY CAMERAS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT MOVING FORWARD AFTER BEING THERE 16 YEARS, HINGS CHANGE.

AND I'D CERTAINLY GOING TO SUPPORT THE BILL.

I'M JUST KIND OF ONE OF THEM OLD HORSES.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS DID STAND TOGETHER TO PAY BACK ALL BUSINESSES FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SOON AS PAYMENTS COME DUE NEXT MONTH.

>> EXPECTING IT'S GOING TO BE A BIPARTISAN BILL IN THE SENATE, JUST LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A BILL IN THE HOUSE.

>> I REPRESENT BOTH LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

THEY ALL GET HIT.

THEY ALL PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT.

THEY ALL PAY TAXES.

AND WE RELY ON THEM.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: JOINING ME NOW TO TALK PUBLIC SAFETY AND MORE, REPUBLICAN SENATE ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER, KARIN HOUSELY AND D.F.L.

SENATE MINE LEADER, MELISA LÓPEZ FRANZEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

FIRST OF ALL, SENATOR HOUSELY, YOU JUST HEARD NO-KNOCK WARRANT, THE HOUSE IS LOOKING AT AMENDING THE SE OR RESTRICTING THE USE.

SEVERAL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HO ARE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR HAVE SAID IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.

WHAT DO SENATE REPUBLICANS THINK AT THIS POINT?

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, MARY.

FIRST OF ALL, AMIR LOCKE'S DEATH IS A REAL TRAGEDY.

AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY.

AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO IS MORE INFORMATION.

AS MORE NOTIFICATION COMES TO LIGHT ABOUT THESE NO-KNOCK WARRANTS AND WE'LL GET FEEDBACK FROM BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES, BUT WE'LL MOST DEFINITELY GET INPUT FROM BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND WITH THE ARREST IN WINONA OF THE MAN THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AS ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR, REMINDS US OF JUST HOW IMPORTANT AND HOW IMPORTANT OF A JOB THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES DO, AND HOW DANGEROUS THE JOB IS THAT THEY DO.

SO WE WILL BE BE TALKING TO OUR POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS IN THE COMMUNITIES TO SEE WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH NO-KNOCK WARRANT.

>> Mary: OKAY, MADAM MINORITY EADER, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE OF THE HOUSE LANGUAGE?

>> WELL, MARY, IN THE SENATE, WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT NO-KNOCK WARRANT.

IT'S THE TRAGIC DEATH OF AMIR LOCKE THAT WE ALL MOURN.

AND WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION.

BUT I THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO BE JUST THIS ISSUE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT HOW WE TACKLE CRIME HOLISTICALLY.

FROM RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TRAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS AND PEACE OFFICERS SO THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP US SAFE, BUT THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL NEED THEM TO ABIDE AND BE ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL WHEN THINGS GO WRONG.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCE OF THAT.

WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SAFE IN THE COMMUNITIES NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE.

>> Mary: THE LEGISLATURE DID PASS SEVERAL REFORMS TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THERE'S ANOTHER POLICE SHOOTING.

DOES THAT MEAN THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE ACTION AND IS THERE KIND OF A PART TWO OF ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY BUT ALSO LAW ENFORCEMENT REFORM?

>> WELL, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS WE NEED MORE COPS ON THE STREET.

WE TALKED TO MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL' CROSS THE STATE, THERE IS A REAL SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WE DID PROPOSE OUR COPS BILL CREATING OPPORTUNITIES IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND MY BILL SPECIFICALLY CREATES A ROGRAM WHERE WE CAN ENTICE PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR THIS -- FOR THIS MOST RESPECTABLE CAREER.

POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT NOW, THEIR MORALE IS SO, SO LOW.

EVERY SINGLE DAY THERE'S A FRONT-PAGE STORY OF HOW HORRIBLE THEY ARE.

AND THEY AREN'T.

THIS IS A REAL RESPECTABLE, THE HARDST JOB OUT THERE AND THEY AREN'T GETTING THE RESPECT.

SO WE PUT THE BILL OUT THERE FOR A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN, OU HAVE TO EXCUSE ME, WE'RE IN CAUCUS RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE ACTUALLY OUT AT A RESTAURANT OUTSIDE OF ST. PAUL.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE HEARING FRANK SI NATIONAL SINATRA IN THE BACKGROUND.

BUT ANYWAY, BACK O THE CRIME.

I'M A SUBURBAN MOM AND I HEAR IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THERE NEVER USED TO BE THIS FEAR, WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR GARAGE OOR OPEN FOR TEN MINUTES.

WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO ENCOURAGE MORE POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE CANNOT HAVE THESE CRIMES ACROSS OUR STATE AND ESPECIALLY IN THE METRO.

>> Mary: SENATOR LÓPEZ FRANZEN, YOU'RE ALSO A SUB YUCKER EVERYONE MOM AND YOU'RE HEARING SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS.

IS THIS A HARED PRIORITY AND DOES THIS MEAN THAT A BILL'S GOING TO GET THROUGH 2345EU BIPARTISAN WAY?

>> WELL, I'M A SUBURBAN MOM.

I'M ALSO A DAUGHTER OF A COP AND A DEADLINE OF A COP AS WELL IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES EVERY DAY TO KEEP US SAFE AND THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT ADVERTISING FOR POLICE AND RETENTION IS NOT THE ONLY SOLUTION.

IN MY DISTRICT, I COVER EDINA.

WE HAD THREE CAR JACKINGS IN LESS A MONTH PERIOD.

I TALKED TO MY CHIEF EVEN TODAY.

THEY HAVE FOUR OPENINGS OUT OF A POLICE FORCE OF 57.

AND THEY'RE RECRUITING.

THEY'RE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES, BUT CERTAINLY ARE ABLE TO RECRUIT.

IT'S NOT THE SAME TO TALK ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS, WHERE THEY HAVE 190 190 OPENINGS.

SO NOT EVERY DEPARTMENT IS HAVING THOSE SAME ISSUES, SO NEED TO TALK TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY AND SEE WHAT THEY NEED.

BUT ADVERTISING I DON'T THINK REALLY AFFORDS THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE SEEING, THE VIOLENCE THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE TO REALLY GET AT THE ROOT OF ISSUES.

>> IF I COULD ADD TO THAT, MARY.

I'M SO SORRY.

AND SENATOR LÓPEZ FRANZEN IS FRECT.

THIS IS JUST ONE PART OF THE WHOLE PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ARE ROLLING OUT.

WE HAVE TO GET TOUGH ON REPEAT OFFENDERS.

WE CAN'T HAVE POLICIES LIKE ELIMINATING BAIL OR MANDATORY REDUCING SENTENCES OR DROPPING CHARGES AND LETTING THESE CRIMINALS RIGHT BACK OUT ON THE STREET.

THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO CRACK DOWN ON THOSE POLICIES TO MAKE SURE THOSE CRIMINALS AREN'T RUNNING FREE IN UR NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> Mary: ARE DEMOCRATS INTERESTED IN ALSO BEING TOUGH ON CRIME WHILE ALSO REFORMING LAW ENFORCEMENT?

>> AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT HE ROOT OF THE ISSUES AND WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE OFFENDERS RIGHT NOW ARE YOUTH.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO HAVE THOSE YOUTH BEING OUT THERE AND VIOLENT CRIMINALS?

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PLACES FOR YOUTH INTERVENTION WHICH WE'VE UNDERFUND AID PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROVEN STRATEGIES AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON, PROVEN STRATEGIES TO PREVENT CRIME FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE.

LOCKING PEOPLE UP IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SOLUTION AND WE HAVE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT TO ELIMINATE CRIME TO BEGIN WITH AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON THE MINNESOTA SENATE DFL CAUCUS.

GLAMENT UNEMPLOYMENT >> Mary: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO DO IT AND THE SENATE PUT THEIR BILL FORWARD AND IT PASSED THROUGH FINANCE UNANIMOUSLY THIS WEEK WITH EVERY DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN VOTING FOR IT.

THIS IS MONEY WE BORROWED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP MAIN STREET EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY WERE UNEMPLOYED DURING COVID'S STAFER TO HELP THEM PUT FOOD ON THEIR ABLE.

SO WE HAVE TO PAY THAT BACK.

WE'RE ONLY ONE OF TEN STATES WHO HASN'T PAID IT BACK.

EVERY SINGLE DAY, THERE'S $80,000 IN INTEREST THAT WE'RE PAYING SO WE'VE GOT TO PAY THAT BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> Mary: OKAY, SENATOR LÓPEZ FRANZEN, CLOCK'S TICKING ON THIS.

DO YOU THINK IT'LL GET DONE IN TIME?

>> WE PASSED A SEPTEMBER DEJOURNETT TO PAY FRONT-LINE WORKERS, WHAT WE TOLD THEM WE WERE GOING TO PAY, SO THE CLOCK IS TICKING THERE TOO, SO I THINK WE EED TO ADDRESS BOTH ISSUES.

THEY'RE BOTH RETIREMENTS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY BOTH GET FUNDED.

>> Mary: SO WHAT'S THE PREDICTION ON WHEN THIS PASSES, WHEN IT GETS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK?

WHAT DO YOU TWO DHISK?

>> I'M GOING TO SAY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS OUT OF THE SENATE.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE HOUSE.

I JUST HOPE THE HOUSE DOESN'T MAKE THIS POLITICAL AND TIES IF UP WITH BIG SPENDING PROPOSALS BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

THIS IS MY NUMBER ONE EMAIL AND PHONE CALL FROM MY SMALL BUSINESSES, ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE US BE PAYING THAT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE?

BECAUSE WE WILL GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

>> Mary: THANK YOU.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME, SENATORS.

♪ ♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Mary: ROB DOAR, MINNESOTA GUN OWNERS CAUCUS.

ROB, I THINK YOU SHOULD FIRST EXPLAIN YOUR ORGANIZATION.

YOU'RE NONPARTISAN, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT, YEAH, WE'RE A SINGLE ISSUE NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION.

ADVOCATING FOR PRO SECOND AMENDMENT AND PRO GUN RIGHTS AND PRO SPORTSMEN LEGISLATION AND OPPOSING THINGS THAT WE VIEW INFRINGES UPON THOSE RIGHTSES.

BUT ALSO WE'VE GOT A NON-PROFIT ARM WHICH HELPS HIGH SCHOOL TRAP TEAMS AND LEGAL ISSUES AND A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE WHICH IS ENDORSED BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND, YOU KNOW, WE GRADE EVERYBODY BASED ON THEIR ACTIONS WITHOUT MUCH CONSIDERATION TO THEIR POLITICAL PARTY.

>> Mary: SO YOUR ACK OF POLITICS THIS WEEK GAVE YOU NATIONAL, IF NOT INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION.

EXPLAIN HOW AND WHY YOU DECIDED TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN THE AMIR LOCKE SHOOTING.

>> THE BREADTH OF THE COVERAGE WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISING TO US.

THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE'VE WADED INTO THESE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.

WE ISSUED IN THE WAKE OF THE SHOOTING OF PHILANDO CASTILE AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT SOME -- >> WHO HAD A PERMIT TO CARRY.

WE SHOULD REMIND FOLKS, ANOTHER BLACK MAN SHOT BY POLICE WHO HAD A PERMIT TO CARRY.

>> RIGHT, AND WE HAD SOME PUSH BACK TO THAT.

LATER HINGS COME OUT THAT HE HAD T.H.C.

IS IN HIS SYSTEM WHICH ISN'T REALLY AN INDICATION OF NOTHING.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR MESSAGE WAS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF SOMEBODY WHO VOLUNTEERS THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE LAWFULLY CARRYING.

AND THAT'S -- THAT KIND OF SEGUES INTO THIS SITUATION WHERE WE'VE GOT A PERSON WHO - HAS EVERY RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN THEIR HOME.

AND IS KILLED BY POLICE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT FAULTING THE ACTIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS RESPONDING.

OFFICERS DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO GET SHOT BEFORE THEY REACT WITH FORCE.

I THINK THERE CAN BE SOME CRITIQUE ABOUT THE WAY HEY ENTERED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT WE'RE NOT FLAMING THE OFFICERS.

WHAT WE WANT A GOOD HARD LOOK AT IS WHAT SITUATION UT THE OFFICERS AND AMIR CLARK IN THAT SITUATION WHERE THEY FELT LIKE THAT BOTH OF THEM NEEDED TO USE DEADLY FORCE.

>> Mary: AND ALSO NO-KNOCK WARRANT ARE CENTRAL TO THIS DEBATE.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID THE STATE NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS.

ARE YOU AGREEING ITH THAT?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK NO-KNOCK WARRANTS ARE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS FOR OFFICERS AND CITIZENS IN A SOCIETY WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO DEFEND THEIR HOMES.

WE'VE SEEN ALL TOO OFTEN WHERE OFFICERS GO TO THE WRONG HOUSE.

BASED ON -- AND DO -- IMPLEMENT A NO-KNOCK WARRANT.

WE'VE SEEN ISSUES WITH OTHER INNOCENTS BEING CAUGHT IN CROSS-FIRE.

AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND SAY IS NO-KNOCK WARRANTS A VIABLE STRATEGY IN POLICING?

WHEN AT THE OTHER SIDE OF NY DOOR IS SOMEBODY WHO MAY PERCEIVE YOUR ENTRY AS A THREAT AGAINST THEIR SAFETY AND HAS EVERY RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES?

>> Mary: AND YOU MENTIONED DEFENDING YOUR HOME AND DEFENDING YOURSELVES.

MINNESOTA'S NOT A CASTLE DOCTRINE.

DO YOU THINK THIS SPEAKS TO WHAT RIGHTS MENTAL HEALTH GUN OWNERS AND MINNESOTANS SHOULD HAVE IN TERMS OF EFENDING THEMSELVES?

>> WREAFD, I AM IN D.C.

VERSUS HELLER IN 2008, PROTECTS AN INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO OWN A HANDGUN IN THEIR HOME FOR SELF-DEFENSE.

I KNOW LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO MAKE THE HELLER DECISION A LOT BROADER THAN WHAT IT ACTUALLY WAS.

BUT THIS IS THE EXACT SCENARIO OF HELLER.

HIS FAMILY HAS STATED THAT HE HAD A PERMIT TO CARRY.

WHICH THERE'S BEEN NO EVIDENCE TO DISPUTE THAT OR REPUTE THAT.

AND SO THAT ONLY GOES FURTHER TO INDICATE THAT HE'S HAD A BACKGROUND CHECK, THAT HE'S DONE EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY WANTS A GOOD LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNER TO DO AND HE'S STILL DEAD.

>> Mary: SO YOU'VE REALLY LOOKED SPECIFICALLY AT HOW HE USED THE GUN AND DETERMINED WHAT?

>> I THINK ANY PERSON LOOKING REASONABLY AT THE SITUATION CAN'T COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT AMIR WAS FULLY COMPREHENDING WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE SITUATION.

DEAD ASLEEP.

BLANKET WRAPPED AROUND HIS HEAD EVEN FURTHER RESTRICTING HIS ABILITY TO HEAR THINGS.

IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT HE STARTS GETTING UP UNTIL THE COUCH IS KICKED.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MORNING UNTIL I'VE HAD AT LEAST A CUP OF COFFEE.

SO HE'S IN THIS PRE-MORNING -- THIS EARLY HAZE.

AND ALL OF THIS NOISE.

HE'S BLINDED BY LIGHTS IN HIS EYES.

WHEN HE GRABS HIS GUN, HIS FINGER IS ALONGSIDE THE TRIGGER.

THAT'S HOW YOU HOLD THE GUN.

YOU KEEP THE FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO SHOOT.

WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT AND THE BENEFIT OF A FRAME BY FRAME REPLAY.

BUT I THINK IT JUST GOES TO THE OVERALL IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING THAT -- AMIR COULD HAVE BEEN ANY LAWP CITIZEN IN ANY SITUATION THAT FACED AN OFFICERS ENTERING IN THROUGH STEALTH DURING A NO-KNOCK WARRANT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT IT.

>> Mary: THANKS, ROB.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: UP NEXT, THIS WEEK'S INSTALLMENT OF OUR SERIES OF RETIRING LAWMAKERS.

ROD HAMILTON HAS EXPERIENCED A LOT OF CHANGE IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE AND AT THE LEGISLATURE SINCE HE FIRST TOOK OFFICE NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO.

THE QUESTION I'M STARTING WITH EVERYONE IS WHY NOW?

WHY ARE YOU RETIRING?

>> IT'S TIME.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN 18 YEARS.

AND I NEVER PLANNED ON SPENDING THIS AMOUNT OF TIME HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I PLANNED ON.

BUT 18 YEARS IS A LONG TIME.

I WAS A YOUNG MAN WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED.

I WOKE UP ONE MORNING, AND MY TOES WERE TINGLING.

YOU AND I DO HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON, RIGHT?

AND I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, AND THAT'S PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

I'VE ALWAYS TOLD PEOPLE BACK HOME DON'T VOTE FOR ME OR AGAINST ME BECAUSE I HAVE MULTIPLE SCHER YOUS E YOAS YOAS YIS.

WHEN I FIRST RAN, I WAS PHYSICALLY RUNNING AND TODAY I'M IN A WHEELCHAIR.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE EQUATION, BUT THAT'S NOT THE FINAL PIECE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.

IT ISN'T.

IT'S GREATER THAN THAT.

WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED, I FELL INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION.

AND WHEN I BROKE DOWN AND SAID YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOME HELP.

SO I WANT TO RAISE PEOPLE, THE UNDERSTANDING THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS REAL.

AND IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP.

>> THIS IS REAL PEOPLE.

>> Mary: ONE WORD I THINK OF AS EMPATHY.

AS A LAWMAKER AND AS A HUMAN BEING, I SEE YOU SHOWING EMPATHY.

AND DO YOU THINK YOUR M.S.

HELPED YOU BE A MORE EMPATHETIC LAWMAKER?

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

YEAH, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WALK OR ROLL IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES, YOU LOOK AT LIFE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO I GUESS THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I PRIDED MYSELF ON TOO IS THAT YOU JUST LISTEN TO PEOPLE, AND HEAR WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE.

AND MY MOM WOULD ALWAYS SAY IF SOMEONE'S COMPLAINING, INSIDE EVERY COMPLAINT IS A REQUEST.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT DIVERSITY AS WELL?

BECAUSE YOUR DISTRICT HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN ALMOST THE TWO DECADES YOU'VE BEEN THERE AND OU HAVE STOOD OUT AND STOOD UP AND TALKED ABOUT REFUGEES, IMMIGRATION AND DIVERSITY AND EMBRACING THAT WHEN NOT NECESSARILY A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU WERE DOING THE SAME.

>> I AS INVITED DOWN TO THE CITY OF WORTHINGTON.

PEOPLE WERE REACHING OUT TO ME AND SAID COME DOWN ND MEET WITH THE IMMIGRANTS, MEET ARE THE REFUGEES.

SO I'D GO DOWN THERE, AND THEY WERE SHARING HE PERSONAL STORIES, AND NOT ONLY DID I GAIN A GOOD UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THEIR STORIES, IS I MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS BY DOING THAT.

MARY, OVER 80% OF THE STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY IN WORTHINGTON ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

MIDDLE SCHOOL, IT WOULD BE ABOUT 75%.

HIGH SCHOOL, ABOUT 70%.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR FUTURE.

IT IS CHANGING.

AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> Mary: I THINK IT DOES CONNECT WITH AGRICULTURE.

YOU'VE BEEN IN AGRICULTURE CHAIR.

AND THE REALITY IN AMERICA AND IN MINNESOTA THAT WE NEED IMMIGRANTS, WE NEED REFUGEES TO PICK, PROCESS, OUR FOOD.

>> IT USED TO BE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, IF YOU WILL, COMING TO THE UNITED STATES.

NOW WE HAVE A BIT LARGER INFLUX OF PEOPLE COMING UP FROM CENTRAL AMERICA.

SO THAT'S PART OF IT.

THE FIRST-GENERATION, BUT YOU ALSO LOOK AT THE SECOND GENERATION.

WE HAVE MANY BUSINESS OWNERS AROUND HERE.

I SAID A LOT OF TIMES WE FEAR WHAT WE DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND.

WHETHER IT'S THE WAY WE CHOOSE TO WORSHIP, THE WAY WE DRESES, DRESS, THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN.

IF WE WOULD SIMPLY TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER, WE'LL FIND BEAUTY ALL AROUND US.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE WAS ALL THAT RHETORIC AROUND IMMIGRANTS AND STUFF, BECAUSE THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO THIS COUNTRY AND I SUPPORTED THE DREAM ACT.

THAT WAS IN-STATE TUITION FOR STUDENTS WHO WERE UNDOCUMENTED.

I SUPPORT THE DRIVER'S LICENSE BILL, AND THAT'S FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

AND THE REASON I DO THAT IS BECAUSE I MET THE FAMILIES.

I MET PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS.

>> Mary: SO HOW HARD IS IT TO DEFY YOUR PARTY AND YOUR PARTY LEADERS ON THAT.

YOU HAD TO HAVE GONE THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES ON IT?

>> WELL, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND THAT'S KIND OF THE FILTER THAT I RUN THINGS THROUGH.

>> Mary: ANY REGRETS?

>> NO.

I WAS QUICK TO SAYING NO.

IT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT PART WAS BEING AWAY FROM FAMILY.

WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, OUR SON WAS IN SIXTH GRADE, OUR DAUGHTER WAS IN FOURTH GRADE.

AND I DIDN'T REALIZE OR TOOK IT FOR GRANTED, HE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT ACTUALLY TAKES TO BE A LEGISLATOR.

THEY ALWAYS SUPPORTED AND THEY WANTED THEIR DAD TO DO THIS.

BUT I WAS THE ONE THAT MISSED OUT.

I CAN'T GET THAT BACK.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT ADVICE FOR OTHER LAWMAKERS?

>> ONE WOULD BE, YOU HAVE TWO EARS AND ONE MOUTH.

USE THEM ACCORDINGLY.

LISTEN TO PEOPLE.

IT'S INCREDIBLE THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY BEING PROVEN WRONG FAR OUTWEIGHS THE PRIDE OF BEING RIGHT.

AND SO IF YOU CAN LEARN STUFF FROM OTHERS, THAT'S VERY VALUABLE, RIGHT?

THE OTHER THING TOO IS IT'S OKAY TO CHANGE YOUR POSITION ON THINGS.

JUST BY, ONCE AGAIN, THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY LISTENING TO OTHERS.

I'VE CHANGED MY POSITION ON THINGS.

♪ ♪ >> WHEN MY PARTY REGAINED CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, I WAS OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHAIR A COMMITTEE THAT I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO CHAIR.

THE SPEAKER WISELY DRAGGED ME INTO IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, TRAGICALLY, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AFTER THAT, GEORGE LOYD WAS KILLED.

YOU KNOW, IT THRUST OUR COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, MY CHAIRMANSHIP RIGHT INTO THE EYE OF THE STORM.

>> Mary: DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEEDED TO STAY TO SEE THAT THROUGH AS WELL TO GET SOME OF THE POLICE REFORM THROUGH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE DELVED INTO IT RIGHT AWAY.

I WAS OFFERED THE COMMITTEE, WE WERE A LITTLE BIT PROPHETIC, I SUPPOSE, BUT FRANKLY, DIDN'T TAKE ROCKET SCIENCE TO FIGURE OUT THAT THIS WAS A PATTERN THAT WE HAD SEEN, THAT WOULD CONTINUE AND HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVENE.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT WEEK WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW "ALMANAC" ON FACEBOOK, LOOK FOR SESSION UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

AND THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

NOW IN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, PRESS CONFERENCES AND MORE ON THE PBS STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE INTO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY WILL HAVE MORE ON THE KILLING OF AMIR LOCKE AND THE WANING OMICRON VARIANT.

I'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT POLICE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORMS.

CONVERSATIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVE FRAZIER AND SENATOR LIMMER.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

GOOD NIGHT.

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