Following the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) is placing the blame squarely on failed leadership from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D). Emmer, a Catholic father of seven and lifelong Minnesotan, said the tragedy is a direct result of radical left-wing policies that ignore mental health and reward confusion over clarity.
The shooter, identified as Robert Westman—who later went by Robin—was a biological male reportedly suffering from deep gender identity issues. Before turning the gun on himself, Westman killed two children and injured 17 others. In disturbing online videos, he expressed regret over transitioning and described himself as "tired of being trans."
Emmer said this wasn't just a tragedy—it was a failure that could have been prevented. “There were warnings all along the way,” he said. “Somebody had to know. Someone in his neighborhood, his family, someone should have spoken up. Instead, we have policies that encourage confusion and ignore mental illness.”
Emmer harshly criticized Walz for promoting Minnesota’s “trans refuge” law, which allows minors to undergo gender transition procedures—even against parental wishes—and shields those who travel to Minnesota for such treatments from out-of-state legal consequences. “They’ve been encouraging this type of confusion,” Emmer said. “Rather than helping this young man, they made things worse. He was screaming for help.”
Catholic schools had previously requested increased security following the 2023 shooting in Tennessee, but those requests were ignored. Emmer pointed to this as another example of Walz’s unwillingness to prioritize safety, especially for faith-based institutions. “The shooter targeted a Catholic school, and Walz refuses to call it what it is—an anti-Catholic hate crime.”
While Democratic leaders rushed to blame guns, Emmer said the real issue lies in the mental health crisis fueled by extreme gender ideology. “We respect everyone’s challenges,” Emmer said. “But why aren’t we talking about the suicide rates in the trans community? Why aren’t we addressing the pain instead of enabling it?”
Calling for a full repeal of the “trans refuge” law, Emmer warned that such measures open the door to government overreach, where parents could lose custody simply for opposing hormone treatments for their children. “This should not be allowed. These are tortured individuals, and we’re making it worse.”
Emmer also expressed his full support for the FBI investigating the shooting as an anti-Catholic hate crime and domestic terrorism. “This wasn’t random. It was targeted. And yet again, Walz refuses to lead.”
The congressman ended with a blunt warning: “There’s something seriously wrong with Tim Walz. He’s abandoned the people he was elected to protect. It’s time for leadership that puts families, faith, and safety first.”