McCollum calls for new gun laws after Connecticut school shooting

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum was the first member of the Minnesota congressional delegation to call for new gun control laws after a school shooting in Connecticut.

A gunman killed 26 people, including 20 children, at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. on Friday. In a statement, McCollum said the shooting is "heartbreaking" and "incomprehensible," and she called for lawmakers to take up new gun control laws in the wake of the tragedy.

“The time has come for President Obama, Congress and the American people to come together to act immediately to end the epidemic of gun violence and the proliferation of guns designed to be weapons of mass murder," she said. "Inaction and obstruction by the National Rifle Association to common sense gun laws is not tolerable.”

Many members of the Minnesota delegation put out statements or tweets about the shooting. Though there are others who support more gun regulation, McCollum is the only one to call for it on Friday.

Update, 7:50: Rep. Keith Ellison told MSNBC Friday night that he things Congress should move on more gun control legislation. He said there are a handful of bills lawmakers could take up, including those banning high-capacity clips and requiring background checks for all gun buyers, even those who purchase at gun shows (federal law currently only requires background checks for people purchasing guns through licensed dealers).

“It only take us to make up our mind that change has to happen now," he said.

For his part, Obama said in remarks after the shooting, "We're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics." He didn't give specifics.

Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com.