ST PAUL, MINN. – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has issued a pair of executive orders aimed at combatting gun violence.
The orders are the first taken by a Minnesota governor focused on gun violence and direct state agencies to take many different steps to reduce gun violence.
The steps include establishing the Governor’s Statewide Safety Council, which will include leaders from law enforcement, education, mental health and civic organizations across the state. They’ll develop a blueprint for preventing mass violence, domestic terrorism and politically motivated attacks. The council will also create policy and funding recommendations to Governor Walz.
Minnesota’s Commerce Department will also be tasked with working with insurers to collect and analyze ddata from firearm-related claims. This will provide leaders with a better understanding of both financial and society impacts guns have and identify opportunities to prevent harm.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety will also expand their efforts on public education, training and best practices for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, schools and mental health professionals. This expansion will be aimed at preventing individuals in crisis from accessing firearms.
In partnership with the state’s Department of Education and local schools, Minnesota families will have access to guidance, gun locks and safes to prevent accidental injuries and deaths, particularly among children.
“Gun violence has inflicted heartbreak and loss for families in Minnesota and across the country time and time again. Enough is enough,” said Governor Walz. “We have repeatedly met with Republican legislators to find a path forward but were met with excuses and stonewalling, so today I am taking executive action. These executive orders lay a critical foundation for the upcoming legislative session, and now we need Republicans in the Legislature to show courage and pass comprehensive gun violence prevention legislation, including a ban on high-capacity magazines and assault-style weapons. Minnesotans are demanding action.”
Walz also called out Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, saying she’s the ‘only one standing in the way of a vote” on his preferred gun ban.’
In response, Demuth calls out Walz.
“Once the Governor saw that even his own legislators weren’t on board with his gun bans, he pivoted to political rallies and insulting Republicans for suggesting bipartisan ways to keep students safe. Now, he’s pushing an advisory council and PSA campaigns for laws we already have,” she said. “He still refuses to even give details on what he actually wants to ban – instead, he’d rather mock the people who want to know what his bill says. The ban was never actually the goal – the talking point is. If the Governor wants a special session, he should call one. Shame on the Governor for politicizing tragedy, and shame on him for ignoring bipartisan safety solutions in favor of mockery and lies.”
