Walz to sign two gun‑violence executive orders, create Statewide Safety Council
Frustrated by a legislative stalemate over DFL-backed measures — including proposals to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines — Gov. Tim Walz said he will sign two executive orders creating a Statewide Safety Council that will direct state agencies to produce more data on the costs of gun violence and expand education on safe firearm storage. The orders will be signed Tuesday in St. Paul amid town halls and debate over a possible constitutional amendment, with officials and advocates such as Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold, Education Commissioner Willie Jett, Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson, Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, Rep. Emma Greenman and Protect Minnesota’s Maggiy Emery scheduled to attend.
📌 Key Facts
- Gov. Tim Walz, citing legislative "stonewalling" and families affected by the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church mass shooting, said he would take "incredibly aggressive executive actions" and will sign two gun‑violence executive orders Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. in St. Paul.
- The two executive orders will establish a Statewide Safety Council, direct the state to produce more data on the costs of gun violence in Minnesota, and expand education on safe firearm storage.
- Officials and advocates scheduled to attend the signing include Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold, Education Commissioner Willie Jett, Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson, Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, Rep. Emma Greenman, and Protect Minnesota’s Maggiy Emery.
- The move comes after a months‑long stalemate in the Legislature: DFL leaders pushed for bans on new sales of assault weapons and high‑capacity magazines while GOP leaders said there aren’t enough votes and preferred focusing on school security and mental‑health measures; both sides reported disagreements over a possible special session.
- DFL proposals — including a bill by Sen. Zaynab Mohamed — would ban military‑style assault weapons, high‑capacity magazines, .50‑caliber and undetectable firearms; require owners to register existing banned weapons, prohibit transfers, and require surrendering unwanted firearms to the Minnesota BCA, with exceptions for law enforcement, military and dealers.
- Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and national advocates (including former Rep. Gabby Giffords at DFL town halls) have publicly supported stronger action; DFL Sen. Judy Seeberger, a swing‑district moderate, said she now supports full bans on assault‑style weapons and high‑capacity magazines.
- Parents, survivors and medical witnesses at town halls and hearings delivered emotional testimony calling for bans on AR‑style rifles and high‑capacity magazines; doctors described severe injuries from .223 rounds and rifle damage stemming from the Annunciation shooting.
- Opponents — including the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus and some Republican lawmakers — argue bans are ineffective and emphasize mental‑health interventions and school safety; partisan disputes and those objections have stalled workgroup hearings and negotiations.
📊 Relevant Data
In the years 2021-2023, around 44% of Minnesota’s gun violence victims were Black, while Black people make up only 7.6% of the state’s population.
In 2023, roughly 79% of Minneapolis shooting victims were Black, and the percentage was higher at 89% for juvenile shooting victims.
Racial disparities in community firearm violence in low-income U.S. settings disproportionately affect Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Hispanic populations due to systemic factors.
A Qualitative Scoping Review of Community Firearm Violence in Low-Income Settings — PMC
📰 Sources (13)
Walz to sign 2 executive orders on gun violence
New information:
- Walz will sign two executive orders on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. in St. Paul.
- The orders will establish a Statewide Safety Council.
- They will direct the state to produce more data on the costs of gun violence in Minnesota.
- They will improve education on safe firearm storage.
- Officials and advocates scheduled to attend include Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold, Education Commissioner Willie Jett, Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson, Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, Rep. Emma Greenman, and Protect Minnesota’s Maggiy Emery.
Walz will take 'incredibly aggressive executive actions' on gun control
New information:
- Gov. Tim Walz said he will 'roll out a series of incredibly aggressive executive actions' on gun control due to legislative 'stonewalling.'
- He made the remarks Dec. 12 at a St. Paul news conference (held for a fraud‑prevention initiative).
- Walz cited families affected by the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church mass shooting as a motivation; he did not detail specific executive actions yet.
Annunciation shooting: Parents, community demand change amid healing
New information:
- Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison publicly endorsed pursuing a constitutional amendment to ban assault weapons, saying it could pass the Legislature this session and go to voters next November.
- Parents and community members at a Mounds View town hall delivered emotional testimonies and called for bans on AR‑style rifles and high‑capacity magazines.
- Specific survivor detail cited: a parent described injuries from .223 rounds at Annunciation, underscoring high‑velocity trauma concerns.
How one Minnesota swing-district Democrat decided to support an assault-style weapons ban
New information:
- DFL Sen. Judy Seeberger (Afton), a swing‑district moderate who had been undecided, now says she supports full bans on assault‑style weapons and high‑capacity magazines.
- Seeberger stated she will vote “yes on anything and everything” that will reduce gun violence.
- She is appearing with Gov. Tim Walz at a gun‑violence‑prevention town hall in Stillwater on Monday.
Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords pushes for action on gun laws in Minnesota
New information:
- Details of a DFL-hosted gun-violence prevention town hall at Waconia High School featuring Gabby Giffords and Gov. Tim Walz
- Walz publicly reiterated willingness to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot on gun policy
- Dr. Tim Kummer, first physician at the Annunciation shooting, described severity of injuries to a 12-year-old victim and rifle damage
- DFL House Leader Zach Stephenson called for comprehensive prevention, including removing 'weapons of war' and addressing mental health/school safety
- House Speaker Lisa Demuth criticized the event as a campaign-style rally and not truly open to the public; DFL said town halls are open and scheduled the next one for Rochester on Nov. 6
Walz to headline town hall in Waconia on gun violence
New information:
- Gov. Tim Walz will headline a town hall in Waconia focused on gun violence.
- The event adds a specific metro stop to the governor’s series of public town halls amid the special‑session stalemate.
Walz says he’ll hold town halls on guns without agreement on special session
New information:
- Gov. Tim Walz says he will hold town halls on guns despite no agreement with legislative leaders on convening a special session.
- The announcement signals a shift to public outreach as negotiations remain deadlocked.
Gov. Walz suggests constitutional amendment to address gun violence
New information:
- Gov. Tim Walz floated pursuing a Minnesota constitutional amendment to ban the sale and possession of assault rifles during remarks at the MinnPost Festival in Minneapolis.
- Constitutional law expert David Schultz detailed the amendment process (majority votes in both chambers; majority of all voters statewide with non‑votes counting as no) and said passage is unlikely given the divided Legislature.
- Schultz also noted a constitutional amendment banning assault weapons could face federal challenges under recent U.S. Supreme Court Second Amendment jurisprudence.
- Walz has said he plans to call a special session on gun control; no date set.
Gun control special session stuck on runway, here’s why
New information:
- Gov. Tim Walz met with bipartisan legislative leaders on Thursday but reported no agreement on a gun-focused special session; leaders will meet again Friday.
- DFL push centers on a ban on new sales of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; Walz says a House and Senate majority may support a vote.
- House Speaker Lisa Demuth says DFLers have not presented bill language and asserts there aren’t enough votes for a ban; GOP prefers focusing on school security and mental health.
- Specific DFL senators (Rob Kupec, Grant Hauschild, Judy Seeberger) are cited as potential opponents on some new gun measures.
- House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson emphasized the issue’s urgency with personal context and called for votes to test support.
Gov. Walz: GOP won’t budge on gun control; House speaker calls it ‘mischaracterization’
New information:
- Gov. Tim Walz said Republicans "won’t budge" on DFL-backed gun-control measures during ongoing negotiations.
- House Speaker Lisa Demuth rejected Walz’s characterization, calling it a “mischaracterization” and asserting the GOP has engaged in talks.
- The exchange underscores continued stalemate over possible gun-safety legislation ahead of any special session.
Partisan fighting stymies Minnesota Senate's meeting on gun violence
New information:
- The workgroup held a second hearing on Wednesday, where progress stalled amid partisan disagreements.
- Chair Sen. Ron Latz said GOP members failed to bring proposals despite his requests since Sept. 9 and repeatedly gauged support that lacked Republican backing.
- Debate over safe-storage policy grew tense; Sen. Keri Heintzeman defended GOP approaches, while Sen. Zaynab Mohamed questioned GOP motives and Sen. Eric Lucero alleged a decorum violation.
- Lawmakers revisited proposals from Monday including an assault-weapon ban, expanded mental-health services, and funding a state Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
DFL lawmakers propose assault weapons, high-capacity magazines bans
New information:
- Sen. Zaynab Mohamed proposed a bill to ban military-style assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, .50-caliber or larger firearms, and undetectable firearms.
- Existing owners would be required to register these firearms; transfers would be prohibited; unwanted firearms must be surrendered to the Minnesota BCA; exceptions for law enforcement, military, and dealers.
- Parents of Annunciation shooting victims urged action in testimony, providing specific quotes about trauma and school safety.
- Rob Doar of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus opposed the bans, citing a DOJ study on the 1994 federal AWB, emphasizing mental health interventions, and noting bed shortages for civil commitments.
- Lawmakers also reviewed additional proposals addressing mental health at the hearing.