Walz, legislative leaders deadlocked on gun special session; another meeting Friday
Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders remain deadlocked over whether to convene a gun-focused special session after Thursday talks produced no agreement, and leaders plan to meet again Friday. The standoff centers on DFL proposals to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines while GOP leaders press for school-security and mental-health measures; Walz has begun scheduling public town halls and even floated a constitutional amendment as negotiations — and bipartisan workgroup hearings — have stalled, a characterization House Speaker Lisa Demuth disputes.
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📌 Key Facts
- Gov. Tim Walz met with bipartisan legislative leaders but reported no agreement on calling a gun-focused special session; leaders agreed to meet again the following day, leaving negotiations deadlocked.
- Walz said Republicans “won’t budge” on DFL-backed gun-control measures; House Speaker Lisa Demuth called that a “mischaracterization,” highlighting a continuing stalemate over whether and how to proceed.
- With no agreement on a special session, Walz announced he will hold public town halls on guns, signaling a shift to public outreach while talks remain unresolved.
- DFL leaders are pushing a ban on new sales of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; Sen. Zaynab Mohamed proposed broader legislation that would also ban .50‑caliber or larger and undetectable firearms, require registration of existing owners, prohibit transfers, and require surrender of unwanted weapons to the Minnesota BCA, with exemptions for law enforcement, military and licensed dealers.
- House Speaker Demuth and others say DFL lawmakers have not produced final bill language and assert there aren’t enough votes for a ban; some DFL senators (Rob Kupec, Grant Hauschild, Judy Seeberger) have been identified as possible opponents, while GOP leaders favor focusing on school security and mental‑health initiatives instead.
- Bipartisan workgroup hearings have been contentious and repeatedly stalled — debate over safe-storage rules grew tense, GOP members were criticized for not bringing proposals, and testimony included calls for expanded mental‑health services and creation of a state Office of Gun Violence Prevention as alternative or complementary approaches; gun‑rights advocates cited DOJ research and concerns about mental‑health system capacity.
- Walz has floated pursuing a Minnesota constitutional amendment to ban the sale and possession of assault rifles; a constitutional‑law expert said passage would require majority votes in both legislative chambers and a statewide majority (with non‑votes counting as no), is unlikely given the divided Legislature, and could face federal legal challenges under recent U.S. Supreme Court Second Amendment rulings.
📚 Contextual Background
- Members of the Minnesota Medical Association held a news conference at the Minnesota State Capitol calling for a special legislative session to address gun violence following the Annunciation Church and School mass shooting in Minneapolis.
📰 Sources (7)
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.