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“In a closely divided Legislature, my fear is that this petition [to ban assault weapons] will appear as one more required gesture of those on one side of the issue that ultimately drives those on the other side further away,” David Lose writes. “For this reason, in place of demands for immediate passage, I would invite legislators to immediate, legitimate and respectful conversation regarding any and all means by which we can combat the specter of violence that increasingly lurks over our schools and places of worship.” Above, the Minnesota Capitol during a rally to demand action on gun violence prevention on Sept. 1 in St. Paul. (Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune)