By Senator Bill Lieske

By now, you are all aware of the tragedy that took place early on June 14, when Minnesota was rocked by unimaginable violence. A masked gunman, posing as a police officer, visited the homes of several lawmakers. He shot and killed Speaker-Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and shot and nearly killed Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. The two other lawmakers he visited were, by the grace of God, not home.

I didn’t know former Speaker Hortman personally. We rarely crossed paths at the Capitol. But I know she was deeply respected, and I know how much she meant to her family, her friends, and her community. My heart breaks for her children, and my prayers are with them during this unthinkable time. Likewise, my thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved her.

I do know Senator Hoffman. Well, in fact. Since 2023, he has helped immensely on the bipartisan package to update Minnesota’s cottage food laws that I have been working on. These are improvements that let people sell homemade jams, cookies, and other non-hazardous foods at farmers markets or from their kitchens. The bill lowers fees, allows mail delivery, and makes it easier for small family ventures to get started. It’s a simple idea: get the government out of the way of people trying to earn an honest buck. John helped make it happen, and wanted very little credit for it.

That issue is how I have come to know John, but more important than any policy win is the kind of person he is. Politics has been pretty heated for a while now. When I first got to the Senate, tensions were high. The DFL trifecta was moving fast. Many of us were frustrated and angry. There were hard debates and sharp disagreements. And yet, in the middle of all that, John was one of the first Democrats to talk to me like a regular person.

He has never cared what party you belong to or what beliefs you hold. He was kind from our first interaction. He always asked about my life and my family, not just my politics. When my wife came to the Capitol for the first time, it was a big day for our family. She still talks about meeting John. He was warm, thoughtful, and made her feel welcome in a place that often feels anything but.

It shouldn’t need to be said, but let’s be crystal clear: violence is never acceptable. Over the years, I’ve been screamed at, sworn at, called every name you can imagine. And that is ok, because sometimes it’s part of the job. I’d prefer a respectful conversation, but if someone needs to yell at me to feel heard, so be it. What is never acceptable is violence. Ever.

This country has seen too many attacks like this, from people claiming every ideology. But none of these attackers represent the parties or beliefs they claim to belong to. They are not patriots. They are not activists. They are murderers, plain and simple.

There is still so much about this situation that we don’t know. We’re still waiting for answers. But I hope we use this moment to step back and remember something simple and essential: we are allowed to disagree. We should debate. But we can do it without hatred. We can do it without fear. And we absolutely must do it without violence.