Father of Annunciation shooting survivor Lydia Kaiser testifies as Minnesota House assault-weapon proposal stalls

A survivor’s family returns to the Capitol as lawmakers debate firearm restrictions

The father of Lydia Kaiser, an eighth-grade student wounded in the Aug. 27, 2025, shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, addressed Minnesota lawmakers Tuesday as the House weighed proposals aimed at curbing gun violence. Harry Kaiser, who also works as a gym teacher at the school, spoke during a committee hearing that considered restrictions on assault-style rifles and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

Lydia Kaiser survived after being shot in the head during the attack, which occurred during a schoolwide Mass. The shooting left two children dead and more than a dozen others injured, and it prompted renewed scrutiny of Minnesota’s gun laws and the state’s capacity to act in a closely divided Legislature.

What happened in the House hearing

Two measures were taken up in a House committee on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, as part of a broader push by Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers and allied advocates to tighten firearm regulations after the Annunciation shooting. The committee heard testimony from victims’ family members and supporters of stronger gun restrictions, including the Kaisers.

By the end of the hearing, a proposal to begin the process of banning assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines failed on a tied vote, 10-10, underscoring the narrow margins that have shaped public-safety policymaking at the Capitol this session.

Key elements in the gun-policy debate

Supporters of the restrictions have argued that limiting access to certain semi-automatic firearms and larger-capacity magazines would reduce casualties in mass shootings and help law enforcement respond more effectively. Opponents have contended that such bans would not prevent criminals from obtaining weapons and would place new limits on lawful gun ownership.

The debate has been playing out against a wider package of firearm-related proposals discussed at the Capitol, including measures addressing safe storage, reporting of lost or stolen guns, and limits on unserialized firearms often referred to as “ghost guns.”

• Hearing date: Feb. 24, 2026
• Event prompting renewed focus: Aug. 27, 2025, shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis
• Committee outcome on a central restriction proposal: tied vote, 10-10, resulting in failure

Annunciation shooting remains a focal point for policy discussions

The Annunciation attack remains one of Minnesota’s most consequential recent acts of mass violence involving children in a school setting. Investigators previously identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who died at the scene. Authorities have said the weapons used were purchased legally and that the motive was under investigation, with the case examined through the lens of potential bias and domestic terrorism.

The emotional weight of the Annunciation shooting has continued to shape testimony and public debate as lawmakers consider whether firearm restrictions, school-safety initiatives, mental-health interventions, or a combination of approaches can reduce the risk of similar attacks.

With the House evenly split politically, the tied committee vote highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the path forward for major gun-policy changes this year, even as survivors and families continue to press lawmakers for action.