Moment of silence to remember school shooting victims takes place this morning all across state

Talk about it

(St. Paul) -- Governor Dayton is asking all Minnesotans to observe a moment of silence this morning (FRI) at 9:30 to mark one week since the Connecticut school shootings.

Twenty children and six educators were killed. The governor is also asking places of worship and government buildings to ring their bells 26 times "in honor of each life that was taken far too soon."

_______________________________________________________________

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek was among law enforcement leaders meeting with Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday to discuss gun violence in the aftermath of the Connecticut school shootings. Stanek, president of the Major County Sheriffs' Association, says people with severe mental illness should never have access to guns. He's pushing for improved law enforcement access to mental health records for background checks and for those responding to 911 calls.

________________________________________________________________

Otter Tail County in western Minnesota is mirroring the rest of the nation -- with applications for concealed-carry permits and gun-purchase permits up significantly. It comes in the wake of the Connecticut school shootings, amid talk that Vice President Joe Biden is working on new gun law recommendations. Concealed-carry permit applications in Otter Tail County are up 25-percent over last year's numbers -- gun-purchase applications are up even more. Staff say the past couple days have been unbelievable.

Tags: news, minnesota, education