MN Sen. Smith speaks out on gun control

As the nation mourns the loss of 18 mass shooting victims in the past week leaders in the nation's capitol are calling for action on gun control.

For alarm./// thank you for joining us for kimt news 3 at 10?

"* i'm katie lange.

And i'm george mallet.

First tonight as the nation mourns the loss of 18 mass shooting victims in the past week... leaders in washington are calling for action on gun control.

One of those leaders is minnesota's junior u?

"*s senator tina smith.

Kimt news three's anthony monzon spoke with the senator today and joins us now ?

"* anthony?

Well katie and george... senator smith says it's past time to reform gun laws to keep people safe.

In an impassioned speech on the senate floor this afternoon... the senator called on lawmakers to enact universal background checks on firearm purchases, and ban assault weapons as well as high capacity magazines.

Smith says in a year filled with heartbreak and death... it almost escaped notice we had gone a year without a mass shooting in a public space.

She says we now face a grim reminder of our american reality after two mass shootings in a week... and another weeks ago here in minnesota.

The senator told me we are facing an epidemic of gun violence... "it's interesting.

This is a bipartisan desire that we have in america.

People, even members of the national rifle association, believe that we need common sense reforms. and that's what i hope and i pray that we will take up on the senate floor.

I asked the senator about critics who say most gun crimes are committed by people who acquire firearms