St. Louis Park, Minnesota

St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed, the first Somali-American elected mayor in Minnesota, drew criticism after a video circulated on social media showing her responding to concerns about gun violence tied to Somali gangs by calling for a broader gun ban. In the clip, Mohamed dismissed criticism framing the violence as a Somali-specific issue as "irresponsible" rhetoric, arguing instead that stricter firearm restrictions were the solution.

The comments gained renewed attention after a shooting near Eden Prairie High School, a Minneapolis suburb, on a Friday night in early October. According to the Eden Prairie Police Department, two Somali males, ages 17 and 18, were injured in the gunfire; their injuries were not described as life-threatening. The incident has intensified debate over gang-related violence in the Twin Cities area and reignited arguments between gun-control advocates and Second Amendment supporters over how best to address it, with Mohamed's remarks becoming a flashpoint in that broader political dispute.