Honestly, the politics of guns in America usually feels like a broken record. You know the drill: tragedy strikes, one side screams for bans, the other side digs in on the Second Amendment, and basically nothing changes. But the way Tim Walz has handled the fallout of several high-profile incidents—including the recent Annunciation mass shooting—tells a much weirder, more complicated story than the talking points suggest.
It's kinda wild to look back at where he started.
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From NRA Darling to "Straight Fs"
Most people don't realize Walz wasn't always the "gun control guy." For years, he was the National Rifle Association’s best friend in a red-leaning congressional district. We're talking about a guy who grew up in rural Nebraska, joined the National Guard at 17, and spent his weekends hunting. He had an "A" rating from the NRA.
Then 2018 happened. Parkland changed everything for him. He’s been pretty open about how his daughter, Hope, basically told him he had to fix it. He didn't just tweak a few positions; he flipped the script. He donated his old NRA campaign contributions to charity and started calling for the very bans he used to vote against.
Fast forward to August 2025. Minneapolis was rocked by a horrific attack at the Annunciation Catholic Church and School. A 23-year-old named Robin Westman fired over 100 rounds through stained-glass windows while kids were gathered for Mass. Two children died. Twenty-one others were injured. It was the kind of nightmare that stops a city in its tracks.
The Annunciation Mass Shooting and the Legislative Wall
After that shooting, Walz didn't just do the "thoughts and prayers" thing. He went on the offensive. He called for a special session to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. He sounded angry.
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"We have weapons of war on the streets," he said. He wasn't wrong about the firepower used, but the political reality in St. Paul is a different beast entirely.
Minnesota’s legislature is a mess of tight margins. The House was tied 67-67. The Senate had a one-vote majority for the Democrats. In that environment, "comprehensive gun reform" usually goes to die. Republicans, led by House Speaker Lisa Demuth, argued that the focus should be on "hardening" schools—better locks, more security officers, mental health funding—rather than taking away guns from law-abiding owners.
When the special session stalled, Walz did something that pissed off his opponents and even some of his allies. He used his pen.
Executive Action: The December 2025 Orders
In December 2025, since he couldn't get the legislature to budge on a ban, Walz signed two major executive orders. Here is basically what they do:
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- The Statewide Safety Council: This isn't just another committee. It’s designed to bring law enforcement and mental health pros together to build a "blueprint" for stopping mass violence before it starts.
- The Insurance Data Requirement: This one is sneaky. He’s requiring insurance companies to hand over data on the actual financial cost of gun violence. The goal? To treat it like a public health crisis, similar to how the government went after tobacco companies or car safety.
- Expanded Red Flag Education: Minnesota already has a "Red Flag" law (passed in 2023), but Walz wants more people to actually use it. The orders push for better training so families know how to report someone in crisis.
Critics, like the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, called it "political cover." They argued these orders are low-impact and don't actually solve the "murder gun" problem. On the flip side, survivors like Kristen Neville, who had five kids inside the church during the August shooting, have been vocal that "enough is enough."
Why This Matters for 2026 and Beyond
The Tim Walz mass shooting response is a microcosm of the national fight. He’s trying to bridge the gap between being a veteran who "knows guns" and a governor who is "sick and tired" of seeing kids in body bags.
But there’s a massive gap between what a governor wants and what the law allows. Even with his executive orders, an assault weapons ban is still nowhere near passing in Minnesota. The state remains deeply divided. One side sees "common-sense safety," and the other sees a slow-motion erosion of the Second Amendment.
The reality is that Walz has moved Minnesota further on gun control than almost any governor in the state's history, but the Annunciation mass shooting showed that even "historic" laws from 2023—like universal background checks—didn't stop a determined shooter with a rifle.
Real Steps to Take Now
If you’re looking at this from a practical standpoint, here’s the ground-level reality of how these policies affect you:
- Know the Red Flag Laws: If you’re in Minnesota and you’re worried about a family member in crisis, you don't have to wait for a tragedy. The 2023 "Extreme Risk Protection Order" allows you to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms.
- Safe Storage is Now the Standard: Regardless of the politics, Walz has made "safe storage" a massive priority. If you own guns, investing in a high-quality safe isn't just a suggestion anymore; it’s becoming the expected legal standard in the state.
- Track the Data: Watch the Department of Commerce reports coming out in late 2026. The data on insurance claims and gun violence costs will likely be used to push for new "liability insurance" requirements for gun owners in future legislative sessions.
Walz is betting that treating guns like a public health issue—complete with data, insurance metrics, and safety councils—is the only way to break the stalemate. Whether it actually stops the next mass shooting is a question that hasn't been answered yet.
Next Steps for Minnesotans:
Check the updated Minnesota Department of Public Safety website for the new guidelines on Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs). If you are a gun owner, look into the state-sponsored "Safe Storage" grants that provide free gun locks and discounted safes through local law enforcement agencies. These programs were significantly expanded following the 2025 executive orders.