Walz says he will call Minnesota special session on gun reform
Share and Follow


Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said he plans to call a special session for the state Legislature to consider tougher gun laws after a shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school last week left two children dead and nearly two dozen people injured.

Walz told reporters on Tuesday he plans to propose a “very comprehensive” package that could include an assault-weapons ban. He said he plans to make calls to lawmakers and work on a plan over the next couple of days.

The Democratic governor acknowledged he will likely need to get some buy-in from Republican lawmakers, since the Minnesota Legislature is so closely divided.

“To be very candid, just in a very evenly divided (Legislature), I’m going to need some Republicans to break with the orthodoxy and say that we need to do something on guns,” Walz said on Tuesday.

Walz said his gun proposals would not infringe on Second Amendment rights but would protect students from gun violence. He said he’s open to Republican ideas.

He floated several other possibilities that could be included in his legislative proposal, including more mental health funding, improvements to the state’s 2023 “red flag” law and new requirements on safe storage and liability insurance.

“If Minnesota lets this moment slide, and we determine that it’s OK for little ones to not be safe in a school environment or a church environment, then shame on us,” Walz said.

The suspect in the school shooting last week was identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who once attended the Catholic school in suburban Minneapolis. Westman died by suicide after firing 116 rifle rounds through the church’s stained-glass windows, after barricading the church’s doors, police said.

The suspect was carrying a rifle, pistol and shotgun during the attack, according to officials, all three of which were purchased legally.

The Associated Press contributed

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Viral video shows ICE agent telling agitators they're disrupting arrest of child sex offender in Minnesota

Viral Video: ICE Agent Confronts Protesters Disrupting Arrest of Child Sex Offender in Minnesota

A video that went viral on social media Sunday captured a tense…
Teen charged as adult after fleeing deputies investigating St. Johns County boy's kidnapping

Teen Faces Adult Charges After Fleeing Authorities in St. Johns County Kidnapping Case

Authorities are currently investigating whether 15-year-old Junior Bishop played a role in…
'Creative visionary': Roger Allers, 'The Lion King' co-director, dies at 76

Farewell to a Legend: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of ‘The Lion King’ Co-Director Roger Allers

Roger Allers, a towering figure in the world of animation and a…
Florida woman, 81, arrested in murder-for-hire plot after sharing plan with undercover detective, sheriff says

Florida Grandmother, 81, Caught in Undercover Sting for Alleged Murder-for-Hire Scheme

A Florida woman in her 80s found herself behind bars on Friday…
Kristi Yamaguchi reflects on 1992 gold as she looks ahead to Milan Cortina

Kristi Yamaguchi Remembers 1992 Gold Triumph While Eyeing Future at Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

Renowned figure skating legend Kristi Yamaguchi shares her Olympic experiences and insights…
Democratic Socialists of America in NYC training thousands of activists to counter ICE: report

NYC Activists Mobilize Against ICE with Training from Democratic Socialists of America: Report

The New York City branch of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)…
MARK HALPERIN reveals full scope of Trump's global 'disruption' plan

Mark Halperin Unveils Trump’s Ambitious Global Disruption Strategy: An In-Depth Look

President Trump’s latest tariff threats aimed at Europe highlight two critical questions…
Anti-ICE mob storms Minnesota church over pastor's alleged ties to immigration enforcement

Controversy Erupts in Minnesota as Protesters Target Church Over Pastor’s Alleged ICE Connections

On Sunday in St. Paul, Minnesota, a group of anti-ICE protesters disrupted…