>> ERIC: AFTER QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR WALZ APPEARED TO BACKTRACK ON PLANS TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION.

THIS AS A WEEK-LONG PRAYER VIGIL IS UNDERWAY AT THE CAPITOL.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER COVERS THE NEW SUSTAINED PRESSURE FOR ACTION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE.

>> Mary: CLERGY ARE COMING TO THE CAPITOL DELIVERING A MESSAGE FOR THE GOVERNOR.

>> THIS IS NOT JUST A POLICY FAILURE, IT IS A FAILURE OF MORAL IMAGINATION.

>> AMEN.

>> 700 CLERGY TELLING US TO HAVE A VOTE ON THIS.

I MEAN, THE PUBLIC IS ASKING.

58% PEOPLE WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT GET THIS VERY CLEAR.

THE DEMOCRATS MAY NOT HAVE THE VOTES.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING, WE GO INTO SPECIAL SESSION, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON AN ASSAULT WEAPON BAN AND HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINE.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING, WE ARE NEVER GOING TO HAVE A VOTE ON HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES, THAT'S WHAT THEY MADE CLEAR, BOTH IN PRIVATE AND PUBLICLY.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING YOUR PRAYERS, YOUR PRESENCE, AND YOUR COURAGE TO THE SHARED WORK OF FAITH IN ACTION.

>> Mary: SEVEN DAYS OF PRAYER FROM 700 CLERGY FROM 64 COUNTIES ALL SIGNED THE CALL TO ACTION.

>> MY FAITH COMPELS ME TO ACT.

>> I HAVE TWO KIDS IN THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I DROVE BY SANFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL ON MY WAY TO GET HERE TODAY, AND SAID A LITTLE PRAYER FOR MY BABY INSIDE, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW SHE'S SAFE THERE.

>> WE PROMISE THAT THE GOVERNOR, SENATORS, AND REPRESENTATIVES WILL NOT STAND ALONE.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT YOUR CONGREGATION AND YOUR COMMUNITY?

DO THEY APPROVE WHAT COULD BE LOOKED AT AS POLITICAL ACTIVISM?

>> YES.

MY ONGREGATION IS A SPIRITUALLY PROGRESSIVE OPEN AND AFFIRMING CONGREGATION.

MANY IN MY CHURCH WORK OR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IS A JUSTICE-CENTERED DENOMINATION.

I'VE HAD PEOPLE IN MY CONGREGATION WHO HAVE BEEN LAID OFF DUE TO THE CURRENT WHITE HOUSE ADMINISTRATION.

I HAPPEN TO HAVE GROWN UP WITH MIKE MOISKY, WHO IS IS THE FATHER OF ARPER, WE GREW UP TOGETHER, WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER, WENT TO CHURCH TOGETHER.

>> Mary: SO FAR THE POLITICAL DIVIDE HAS KEPT THE GOVERNOR FROM CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION BECAUSE BILLS NEED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO PASS.

>> OUR CHILDREN AWAIT THE STATE'S ANSWERS.

[ Applause ] >> Mary: FROM THE STATE CAPITOL TO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT GROUPS ARE PUTTING SUSTAINED POLITICAL PRESSURE ON LEADERS.

>> LET'S TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

TO REMEMBER THE LIVES OF HARPER AND FLETCHER, WHO DIED DURING THEIR SCHOOL MASS AT ANNUNCIATION CHURCH AND SCHOOL ON AUGUST 27, AND MAY WE ALSO HOLD IN OUR HEARTS THE 18 CHILDREN AND THREE ADULTS WHO WERE WOUNDED DURING THE SHOOTING.

>> Mary: IN THE POLITICAL SWING DISTRICT OF STILLWATER, THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND OF MINNESOTA JOINED LOCAL OFFICIALS.

>> WE SEE ALL THE HATE ND VITRIOL, WHEN ANYBODY TALKS ABOUT GUN CONTROL OR TRYING TO MAKE A CHANGE, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ORGANIZERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO BE UP HERE TO DO THIS.

>> IT'S TIME TO WORK TOGETHER.

IT'S TIME TO MAKE COMPROMISES.

IT'S TIME FOR COMMON-SENSE GUN LAWS, IT'S TIME TO BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS AND HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

THE LIFE YOU MIGHT SAVE MIGHT BE THAT OF YOUR CHILD, YOUR GRANDCHILD, OR A CHILD IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> Mary: TEACHERS AND STUDENTS SAY THEY'RE TIRED OF ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS.

>> I CAN PROTECT THEM JUST A TEENY BIT LONGER AND DON'T HAVE TO TELL THEM WHY WE'RE REALLY HIDING.

WHY WE'RE REALLY PROTECTING, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE REALLY PRACTICING FOR.

SORRY.

>> IT FEELS LIKE EVERY WEEK WE'RE READING ABOUT ANOTHER TRAGEDY IN A SCHOOL JUST LIKE MINE.

BEING A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL IS HARD ENOUGH, MAKING NEW FRIENDS, THE STRESS OF SCHOOL WORK, WORRYING ABOUT WHAT SPORTS TEAM I WILL MAKE, GETTING TO MY BUS STOP ON TIME AND SO MUCH MORE.

ON TOP OF THAT, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO FEAR FOR MY LIFE EVERY DAY AT SCHOOL?

>> Mary: AND MOMS DEMAND ACTION HAS CONTINUED A LONG PUSH FOR MORE GUN CONTROL.

>> GUN VIOLENCE HAS NOW BECOME THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS, MORE THAN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS AND CANCER.

LET THAT SINK IN.

>> WE ARE ALLED TO ACT NOW.

TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING.

WE OWE THAT TO FLETCHER AND WE OWE THAT TO HARPER.

AND WE OWE THAT TO LYDIA, SOPHIA, PABLO, VIVIAN, VICTOR, DAVID, ESTELLA, ASTORIA, AND THE ANY MORE CHILDREN WHO WERE AT ANNUNCIATION THAT DAY AND WHO ARE GRIEVING, HEALING, PRAYING, AND WORKING HARD TO REGAIN THEIR CHILDHOODS.

I WANT TO TELL THEM THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STATE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.

>> Mary: IN THE END, STILL ONLY THE GOVERNOR CAN CALL A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> I'M GOING TO BE AT TOWN HALLS WITH SOME OF THESE FOLKS, THESE PARENTS, AND WITH THESE CLERGY AND WITH, YOU KNOW, DOCTORS AND WITH OTHERS, AND JUST SAYING, AND, AGAIN, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO STATE YOUR OPINION ON THIS.

IF THIS IS A BAD IDEA, I RESPECT THE DEMOCRACY.

>> IT MAKES NO SENSE TO HAVE MILITARY-GRADE ASSAULT WEAPONS WITH HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES AS A PART OF OUR CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT WE CAN'T PASS REASONABLE