Walz’s push for stronger gun limits not getting traction with lawmakers

Gov. Tim Walz’s vow to call lawmakers back to the Minnesota Capitol for a special legislative session on gun policy has run into a harsh political reality.

Republicans in the closely divided Legislature haven’t budged in their opposition to proposals that would ban assault-style firearms and high-capacity magazines — even after impassioned testimony last week from parents of children who survived last month’s mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis. Without bipartisan agreement, even some Democrats believe Walz shouldn’t call a special session, and it’s unclear if there are enough votes within his own party for new gun restrictions.

The DFL governor told reporters Tuesday that “it’s clear to me that Republican legislators want to talk about everything else except guns.”

“I asked for a floor vote on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, and just let the members vote on it,” Walz said. “There is no appetite on the Republican side to hold a floor vote on guns.”

That leaves Walz in a tough political spot as he’s made gun control a top priority since two schoolchildren were killed at Annunciation. Walz, who’s running for a historic third consecutive four-year term, must decide whether to gamble on calling lawmakers back without a bipartisan deal. Giving up on the talks poses a risk for Walz, as does the possibility of a futile session.

In the tied Minnesota House, gun legislation would need bipartisan support through every committee vote to reach the floor. Democrats hold a one-seat advantage in the Senate, but because of a resignation, they are currently one member short of the 34-vote threshold needed to pass bills. That means the DFL senators, too, would need a Republican to vote with them to pass gun control legislation.

Walz said Tuesday that GOP legislative leaders told him “there wouldn’t be a vote on gun bans.” Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth quickly disputed the assertion.

Walz said he’d propose a package of gun bills that includes an assault rifle ban in the days after the shooting at Annunciation, but he has yet to release his proposals.

House Republicans released a plan earlier this month that includes more school security funding, school resource officers and funding for mental health treatment beds, as well as mandatory minimum prison sentences for repeat gun offenders.

Their proposals did not address access to firearms. Walz called that a major sticking point.

“The ability to fire 116 rounds in 90 seconds into a church full of children is something,” Walz said, emphasizing the carnage that assault weapons can inflict.

“The vast majority of the people of Minnesota want to see us do something on this. We should be able to get together and do that,” he said.

DFL Sen. Judy Seeberger, who won a close east-metro suburb race in 2022, told the Minnesota Star Tribune earlier this month that she thought a “comprehensive package,” including mental health funding and “holding violent offenders accountable,” would have the best shot at passage.

Sen. Rob Kupec, a Democrat from Moorhead, told MinnPost that he doubts a state-level assault weapon ban would help since Minnesotans could go to other states to buy the firearms.

House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids said every member of his caucus is ready to vote for an assault weapons ban. The House DFL’s former leader, Melissa Hortman, was assassinated with a gun in her home in June.

“Melissa Hortman was killed in an act of gun violence,” Stephenson said. “For our caucus, this is a very personal issue and very important to us.”

Stephenson conceded that it would be unusual for the governor to call a special session without bipartisan agreement on the agenda, though he said it is “100% [Walz’s] prerogative and he has indicated that he is open to doing that.”

“If there is not a special session, we will still need to address it,” he said.