Minnesota Governor Tim Walz introduced a comprehensive gun safety package on Tuesday, something he's been pushing for since last summer's Annunciation Cchurch mass shooting that killed two children and injured thirty more.
The governor called this a non-partisan issue, and he's reaching out to Republicans for help to 'protect lives' after Annunciation, which happened on this day, exactly six months ago.
"The power is coming from the people asking for change," Walz announced Tuesday morning at a press conference. "The power is coming from the Annunciation families. The power is coming from law enforcement who knows where we need to make changes. All of those things together, the responsibility to make those changes falls on this legislature."
Among the highlights of the governor's proposal are an assault rifle ban, stronger regulations for the safe storage of weapons, and increased reporting when a firearm is stolen.
Walz says these are common sense issues that do not affect the Second Amendment rights of Minnesotans.
"I want to make this case that this legislative session, this is an opportunity to make Minnesota the safest state around gun violence while doing nothing to impinge on your Second Amendment rights," Walz added.
Parents of Annunciation students are expected to provide testimony, as well as leaders of the gun industry and the gun lobby, during what is likely to be a spirited debate during the session.
Walz attempted to gather support following the Annunciation mass shooting for a special session to address these very same proposals, but struggled to find common ground with state lawmakers, and Republicans that wanted the focus to be more on mental health issues and school safety.
“In the past year we have seen gun violence inflict immense heartbreak and loss in Minnesota. It’s time for us to come together to take real, actionable steps toward common sense gun laws,” said Governor Walz. “We are ready to make significant progress, and I look forward to working across the aisle to pass the gun violence prevention legislation that Minnesotans deserve.”
The proposals from Walz face an uphill climb, however. Any legislation that passes will need bipartisan support. While the DFL holds a slim, one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate, there is a 67-67 tie in the House. Republicans in both the House and Senate have shown significant resistance to any new restrictions for the state's gun owners. There have also been some in the DFL party showing resistance to increased gun regulations.