Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, once a champion of gun rights in Congress, underwent a significant shift in his stance on gun control laws after a mass shooting. Walz, now the Democratic vice presidential nominee alongside Kamala Harris, attributes his change in perspective to his rural upbringing on a midwestern farm and his extensive military service. He warns Republicans of potential backlash from voters if they fail to support sensible gun laws.
However, this shift in stance has led to criticism from some gun rights activists, including the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA’s executive director, Randy Kozuch, stated that Walz can no longer be trusted to protect the rights of hunters and gun owners.
Walz’s political career began in 2006, and for most of his time in Congress, he strongly supported Second Amendment rights. He co-sponsored various pro-gun legislation, including bills related to ATF reform, public lands access for hunting, and concealed carry reciprocity.
Despite his previous pro-gun stance, Walz’s views on gun control began to change following the tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017. The incident prompted him to reevaluate his position, with his daughter playing a significant role in motivating him to advocate for stricter gun control measures.
Since then, Walz has co-sponsored bills focused on funding firearms safety research and lifting restrictions on gun violence research. He has also distanced himself from the NRA, donating their campaign contributions to charity and actively supporting gun control initiatives.
Upon being elected governor, he brought his fight to Minnesota.
Despite Walz’s efforts to advocate for stricter gun laws, the Legislature has consistently rejected most of his proposals.
On March 24, 2023, he did manage to pass a ban on triggers that can increase a gun’s rate of fire, but other key bills did not make it through.
These bills encompassed regulations on gun storage, bans on “large capacity magazines,” limitations on where guns can be carried, mandatory reporting of lost or stolen guns within 48 hours, a state prohibition on “semiautomatic military-style assault weapons,” and a restriction on the use of lead ammunition or fishing tackle by hunters and fishermen.
During a press conference in March 2023 addressing the failed legislation, Walz cautioned that Republicans would face repercussions for their opposition.
“You are not going to frame this as a confiscation of your guns, because I’m going to frame it as you failing to protect our children,” he asserted.
On the other hand, state Republicans at the time suggested that existing laws could be utilized more effectively to address the issue.
“Instead of employing an extreme all-or-nothing approach to gun control, we should collaborate to safeguard lives with solutions that are universally supported and proven to be effective,” remarked Republican State Senator Mark Johnson.
