Walz proposes new gun restrictions in wake of Annunciation school attack

By Elyse Apel
The Center Square

Nearly six months since the Annunciation Catholic School shooting, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has proposed a sweeping “ban” on different firearms and firearm accessories.

The package includes more than a dozen new restrictions.

“Too many times, we have seen gun violence inflict immense heartbreak and loss in Minnesota, Walz said recently. “It’s time for us to come together to take real, actionable steps toward common sense gun laws.”

Two students died during the attack, which happened during the school’s mass on the morning of Aug. 27. Another 30 in attendance were injured. The 23-year-old shooter formerly attended the church and school.

Lydia Kaiser, an eighth-grader who was shot in the head during the attack, spoke along with Walz in favor of the proposed restrictions.

“Two students were shot and killed, two students survived gunshot injuries to the head. I am one of them,” Kaiser said . “All children have the right to live free from gun violence in schools, churches and in our communities. Elected officials have a duty to protect us from guns. No one should have to go through what we went through at Annunciation.”

In response to that, Walz called for accountability.

“It’s time for our legislators to take a lesson in courage from eighth-graders like Lydia and stand up to the gun lobby,” he said.

This package has been anticipated from Minnesota Democrats since the shooting. While there is still some lack of clarity around what specifics will be included in the bills, Walz’s office did release some information on the Gun Violence Prevention Package.

Specifically, that it will:

• Ban “military assault rifles” and high-capacity magazines

• Re-pass the binary trigger ban

• Ban firearms without serial numbers

• Require firearm insurance for all gun owners

• Implement “gun industry accountability”

This is just a few of the measures included in the package.

Republican leaders in the state House, Reps. Lisa Demuth and Harry Niska, responded with concern to Walz’s announcement.

“Now that the governor has finally released the plans he’s been talking about for five months, we’re hoping he’ll also release language so Minnesotans can see exactly what he is proposing,” their statement said. “We heard multiple House Democrats say they could not support an unconstitutional bill, so it appears his bans are off the table even for Democrats.”

They said the priority should be on mental health and early intervention.

“We look forward to working together on bills that keep people safe and protect our constitutional rights.”

The future of this package is uncertain as Republicans and Democrats both hold 67 seats in the House, and Democrats hold the majority in the Senate by just one seat.