May 26, 2022

Minnesota gun laws are shaping up as a flashpoint in the upcoming election in the wake of the shooting deaths of 19 children in Texas.

DFL Gov. Tim Walz says the latest school shooting in Texas demonstrates a need to do more to make sure guns don’t wind up in the wrong hands. He dismissed suggestions that additional background checks or temporary removal of guns from people in crisis would be cumbersome. 

“I think planning a funeral for a 9-year-old is more of an inconvenience right now. I mean, that's ridiculous. A little bit of, I won't even call it an inconvenience, that we make these things possible," he said. 

Likely Republican nominee Scott Jensen apologized to his party convention this month for co-sponsoring a background check bill and another gun measure. 

“When I was in my first term as a senator I put myself on the wrong side of the gun issue by thinking I could compel a conversation by putting my name on a bill and removing it six weeks later," he said, "That was a mistake and I'm sorry and I won't ever do it again.”