Minnesota Governor to Call Special Session Surrounding Gun Control Legislation

(KNSI) – In the wake of the deadly shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church on Wednesday, Governor Tim Walz announced he will call a special session to weigh gun control legislation, including a ban on assault weapons.

With the Minnesota House at a tie and the Senate with two open seats, Walz made it clear, he wants action. “The sad reality of it is that what happened last week is preventable because so many nations around the world do it, and we cannot resign ourselves to believe that our little ones can’t be safe in what should be and always is the most safe environments they can possibly be in, so there’s more work to do there.”

As an avid hunter who grew up with guns, Walz said back in his day, kids brought their shotguns to school and went hunting after, but “it’s a different world.”

While not giving specifics, he believes the package he has put together is “very comprehensive” and has been implemented elsewhere “without infringement on people’s Second Amendment rights,” but it has “been proven that it will help protect our students.”

He agreed mental health issues do need to be discussed, but accused opponents of cutting funding for mental health, adding he’s “happy to add it in” and believes it should be part of it, but worries some may say now is not the time to debate that.

House Speaker, Representative Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring, issued a statement following the announcement of the special session, saying, “As disappointing as it is that the governor is doing this in such an overtly political way, House Republicans stand ready to protect students and schools. I hope we can have a real conversation about all aspects of safety – including things like the school security funding that was denied by the DFL trifecta in 2023 and more funding for desperately needed mental health resources – instead of vague demands for policies that have not stopped gun violence in other states.”

Any bills that are created and passed must be done so in a bipartisan way. An official date for the session is expected to be announced later this week.

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