House GOP Whip Tom Emmer has issued a strong challenge to Minnesota’s “trans refuge” law, calling for its immediate repeal in the wake of a deadly shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis. Emmer tied the tragic incident to the state’s protective policies, arguing that they contribute to confusion and mental health struggles among vulnerable youth. He firmly stated that the “trans refuge” statute should never have been enacted and must be reversed at once.
Signed into law in 2023, Minnesota’s so-called “trans refuge” legislation allows providers and individuals seeking gender-affirming care to avoid out-of-state subpoenas, arrest warrants, and extraditions. This measure, which includes provisions that bypass parental consent in some cases, removes essential safeguards and gives dangerous legal protection to youth undergoing transition.
Emmer argued that instead of offering support, state policies like this worsen mental health challenges. He described the shooter in the Minneapolis attack as a tormented individual whose crisis was potentially amplified by misleading signals sent by these policies. He voiced frustration that, rather than standing up for clear moral and psychological guidance, leaders like Governor Tim Walz are enabling confusion.
In response to the shooting, Emmer also urged a federal investigation, calling for it to be treated as both a hate crime and an act of domestic terrorism. He underscored unsettling patterns, noting a similar attack occurred at a nearby Catholic school just one day earlier. Emmer criticized figures like Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and former press secretary Jen Psaki for dismissing prayer and faith in the healing process.