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Tim Walz on Gun Control
Democrat
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Do you want your schools hardened to look like a fort?
TW: We understand that the Second Amendment is there, but our first responsibility is to our kids to figure this out. There are reasonable things that we can do to make a difference. It's not infringing on your Second Amendment.
But I ask all of you out there, do you want your schools hardened to look like a fort? Is that what we have to do, when we know there's countries around the world that their children aren't practicing these types of drills? They're being kids.
JDV: I unfortunately think that we have to increase security in our schools. We have to make the doors lock better. We have to make the doors stronger. We've got to make the windows stronger. We've got to increase school resource officers because the
idea that we can magically wave a wand and take guns out of the hands of bad guys, it just doesn't fit with recent experience. We've got to make our schools safer, and I think we've got to have some common sense, bipartisan solutions for how to do that.
Source: 2024 Vice Presidential debate: Tim Walz vs. JD Vance
, Oct 2, 2024
Establish red flag law; expand background checks
Governor Walz banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving and raised the age to purchase tobacco to 21. The Governor provided $300 million for public safety needs across the state to combat crime.
Governor Walz took meaningful action to protect communities from gun violence, signing bills establishing a red flag law, expanding background checks, increasing criminal penalties for straw purchasing guns, and banning deadly binary trigger guns.
Source: 2022 Minnesota Governor campaign website mn.gov/Governor
, Aug 6, 2024
2016: Rated "A" by NRA; 2018: switched to "F" rating
- More than half of the bills Walz co-sponsored [in Congress] between 2015-2017 were introduced by non-Democrats.
- [As a member of Congress], Walz once earned an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association and the group's endorsement.
In 2016, Guns & Ammo magazine included him on its list of top 20 politicians for gun owners.
- He later denounced the NRA and supported gun-control measures, such as an assault weapons ban. During his first campaign for governor in
2018, the NRA completely downgraded his rating. "I had an A rating from the NRA. Now I get straight F's. And I sleep just fine."
- Shortly after the deadly Las Vegas shooting in 2017, which killed 59 people, he donated campaign contributions from the
NRA to a nonprofit that supported the family of military members who died or were severely wounded while serving.
- Walz is an avid hunter and scoffed at JD Vance for talking about guns when "I guarantee you he can't shoot pheasants like I can."
Source: Politico.com on 2024 Vice Presidential hopefuls
, Aug 6, 2024
Students should worry about pop quizzes not mass shootings
High school students should be worried about pop quizzes and prom dates--not mass shootings. And that's why, as Governor, I've made it a point to take on the NRA. Last year, we implemented red flag laws and strengthened background checks. Tonight,
I'm urging the legislature to join me in making our schools and our communities a little bit safer still by strengthening requirements for safe storage of firearms, reporting lost and stolen guns, and increasing criminal penalties for straw purchasers.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Louisiana legislature
, Mar 26, 2024
Sign universal background checks & red flag law
Minnesota Women's Press analysis, 05/12/2023:SF2909 requires:- background checks on all handgun and semi-automatic military-style assault weapon sales;
- an Extreme Risk law, which allows loved ones and law enforcement to petition a
court to temporarily restrict access to firearms by those deemed to be at risk of harming themselves and others.
Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 34-33-0 on May/12/23; passed House 69-63-2 on May/15/23; signed by Gov. Walz on May/19/23.
Source: Women's Press on Minnesota State voting records SF2909
, May 19, 2023
Schoolchildren shouldn't have to worry about being shot dead
I've seen some of these other governors on TV--they spend a lot of time on TV--and they're always talking about "freedom." But it turns out what they mean is that government should be free to invade your bedroom, your children's locker room, and your
doctor's office. Here in Minnesota, when we talk about freedom, we mean your children should be free to go to school without worrying they'll be shot dead in the halls.
I know that there's no place for weapons of war in our schools, or in our churches, or in our banks, or anywhere else people are just trying to live their lives without fear. I got an A rating from the NRA my first term in Congress. Now
I get straight F's. And I sleep just fine. We're going to have universal background checks. We're going to have a red flag law. And if anyone in America doubts that we can take meaningful action to protect our kids, I've got two words for you: Watch us.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Minnesota legislature
, Apr 19, 2023
Expand background checks; ban assault-style weapons
Q: Support more restrictive Gun Control legislation?Jeff Johnson (R): No. Opposes expanded background checks. Wants to arm trained professionals in schools & strengthen existing laws,
not restrict "rights of law-abiding gun owners" with new laws.
Tim Walz (D): Yes. Supports expanded background checks & banning assault-style weapons--not arming teachers (he was a teacher for 20 years).
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
, Oct 9, 2018
Supports concealed carry
Indicate which principles you support regarding guns. - Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
Source: 2006 Congressional National Political Awareness Test
, Nov 7, 2006
Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad.
Walz co-sponsored Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act
- Provides a 90-day amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record any firearm acquired before October 31, 1968, by a veteran while a member of the Armed Forces stationed outside the continental United States.
- Grants such an individual limited immunity with respect to the acquisition, possession, transportation, or alteration of such firearm before or concurrent with such registration.
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Extends such immunity to a veteran who attempts to register a qualifying firearm outside of the amnesty period if the veteran surrenders the firearm within 30 days after being notified of potential criminal liability for continued possession.
- Transfers each firearm qualifying as a curio or relic which has been forfeited to the United States to the first qualified museum that requests it
- Publishes information identifying each such firearm which is available to be transferred to a museum.
- Makes a prohibition against transfer or possession of a machine-gun inapplicable to museums.
Source: HR420/S798 11-HR0420 on Jan 25, 2011
Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC.
Walz co-sponsored banning gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC
- Nothing in any provision of law shall authorize the Mayor, or any governmental authority of the District of Columbia, to prohibit possessing firearms by a person who is allowed to possess firearms under federal law.
- Denies the District any authority to enact laws or regulations that discourage or eliminate the private ownership or use of firearms.
- Repeals the ban on semiautomatic weapons.
- Repeals the District`s registration requirement for possession of firearms.
- Repeals the trigger lock law.
- Maintains the current ban on the possession and control of a sawed-off shotgun, machine gun, or short-barreled rifle.
- Eliminates criminal penalties for possessing an unregistered firearm.
- Specifies exceptions to the prohibition against carrying concealed weapons in the District.
Source: D.C. Personal Protection Act (H.R.1399/S.1001) 2007-S1001 on Mar 27, 2007
Dangerousness, not mental incompetence, limits gun rights.
Walz signed Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally incompetent for certain purposes [including 2nd Amendment rights].
Prohibits, in any case arising out of the administration of laws and benefits by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, considering any person who is mentally incapacitated, deemed mentally incompetent, or experiencing an extended loss of consciousness from being considered adjudicated as a mental defective for purposes of the right to receive or transport firearms without the order or finding of a judge, magistrate, or other judicial authority of competent jurisdiction that such person is a danger to himself or herself or others.
Source: S.669&HR2547 2009-S669 on Mar 23, 2009
Page last updated: Nov 02, 2024; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org