Newly elected DFL House leader Zack Stephenson (Coon Rapids) is previewing a possible special session to address gun violence in Minnesota.
Stephenson says Governor Tim Walz (DFL) met with all four legislative leaders on Tuesday to discuss the need for a special session in the wake of the deadly mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church.
Stephenson says he believes Minnesotans are behind a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
"There's no reason to have a magazine that contains 100 rounds, for the purpose of self-defense or hunting," Stephenson told WCCO's Jason DeRusha. "You know, those types of equipment have one purpose. To kill other humans in significant, massive, and fast fashion."
Walz will convene a Cabinet meeting at an Inver Grove Heights elementary school on Wednesday as he discusses his vision to make Minnesota the "best state in the country for kids."
Stephenson says conversations have been productive and respectful, with Republicans bringing ideas he adds are worthy of discussion.
"Caucus has been very interested in mental health supports for many years, and done a lot on that," Stephenson explained. "But you can't use that as a distraction away from the main issue here. The issue is the guns and the issue is the weapons of war."
A number of advocacy groups and leaders across the state have been vocal in the two weeks since the Annunciation shooting that Minnesota's gun laws should become more strict.
WCCO Political Analyst Blois Olson says the special session could put some legislators in a position to go on record, something that some state lawmakers might be wary of.
"Governor Walz indicated it yesterday, after the meeting, was that he believes that he should call it to put Republicans and maybe even some Democrats on the spot to vote on this assault weapons ban in Minnesota," says Olson. "And so, I think that's really where we're at right now."
Olson says it is a more complicated issue than just party politics in Minnesota as well.
"There's also discussion, debate, maybe even dissension, within the DFL Senate caucus," Olson told the WCCO Morning News. "Let's remember, the Democrats had the trifecta. They had the votes to pass an assault weapons ban in 2023 and 2024. And they did not do it. And the reason was, is because not all Democrats were going to take that vote."
On Monday, the Minnesota Medical Association began pressing state lawmakers to address gun violence. They're calling for a statewide ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, a safe-storage law, and for municipalities to be able to enact stricter firearm regulations than the state.
Still, there are some Republicans saying any sort of ban is off the table. GOP House Floor Leader, Rep. Harry Niska, told WCCO-TV on Sunday the federal version of the assault weapons ban "didn't work."
The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus also said the same, adding that they are interested in finding solutions to increase gun safety. Gun Owner Caucus Chair Rob Doar said a ban would not address the mental health issues he says is a root cause of attacks like the Annunciation shooting.
House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R- Cold Spring) also said fellow Republicans want to see mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes as part of any special session.
"There would be consequences where we are not necessarily seeing those at this point," she explains. "So in that case, would it make someone make a different decision? Hopefully, yes, that would be the intent, but it's one step in the right direction."
Last week, Minnesota U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D) and Tina Smith (D) spoke from the floor of the United States Senate with Klobuchar telling lawmakers it's time for political courage to keep children safe and stop senseless acts of gun violence.
"It's never one size fits all," Sen. Klobuchar said. "Each shooting is a little different, but if we just took these common sense measures, which wouldn't set us back on hunting or legal gun ownership, we would make a difference."
Sen. Smith says mental health is very much a part of the discussion however.
"We should undo the cuts to Medicaid that just got pushed through with the Big Beautiful Bill," said smith. "And it's the number one source of insurance for people who are seeking mental health care in this country."