Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) has shifted his attention away from a special gun control session after failing to secure support for a proposed ban on “assault weapons” in Congress.
He expressed that, “If we’re going to have a special session focused on child safety and gun violence, we need to discuss guns,” emphasizing the importance of the topic.
Walz also pointed out that the Republican party’s ability to stall the ban made any potential session feel like a “waste of money and time.”
The Minnesota Gun Owners Conference celebrated Walz’s decision to step back from the special session but cautioned that ongoing pressure is essential to prevent lawmakers from caving in. They commented, “Governor Walz just backed down. He’s been assuring a special gun control session for weeks, but now he’s retreating because of public pressure… It’s effective, but this isn’t the end. Walz has said he will not initiate a special session without some agreement. That means even if some moderate Republicans and DFL members are hesitant, there’s still a chance they might give in.”
Breitbart News highlighted that Walz had been advocating for special gun control sessions following a violent incident involving a transgender man at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on August 27, 2025.
After discussing the special session, Walz attempted to sway Republican lawmakers to endorse the “assault weapons” ban, expressing frustration when they didn’t comply.
According to Fox 9, Walz remarked, “I think there’s a line. Republican leadership informed me that there would never be a vote on guns, nor on banning firearms.”
He described the Republican stance as “unacceptable” and not the compromise he had hoped for from his colleagues.
As a potential alternative, Walz suggested pursuing a state constitutional amendment to outlaw AR-15s and other rifles categorized as “assault weapons” by Democrats. However, his proposals have yet to gain any real momentum.
