Minnesota Governor Unveils New Gun Legislation

Proposal calls for assault rifle ban and high-capacity magazine restrictions

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has unveiled new gun legislation that would ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, as well as increase accountability for gun owners. The bill comes after the deadly Annunciation School shooting last year, which prompted Walz to threaten a special legislative session on gun violence.

Why it matters

Gun control remains a highly contentious political issue in Minnesota and across the U.S. This legislation is likely to face strong opposition from Republican lawmakers who argue that such bans do not improve public safety, and that the focus should be on imprisoning violent criminals.

The details

Walz's proposed legislation would ban the sale and possession of assault rifles and high-capacity magazines in Minnesota. The governor said the state "is not willing to let this go" and "is taking action to do something about" gun violence following the Annunciation School shooting.

  • The Annunciation School shooting occurred last year.
  • Walz threatened to call a special legislative session on gun violence after the Annunciation shooting, but that never happened.

The players

Tim Walz

The Governor of Minnesota who is unveiling the new gun legislation.

Jordan Rasmusson

A Republican State Senator from Fergus Falls, Minnesota who argues that gun bans do not improve public safety.

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What they’re saying

“We're not willing to let this go, Walz said. 'We're not willing to say this is the way we have to live, and we're taking action to do something about it.'”

— Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota (am1100theflag.com)

“There's no evidence that shows that these gun bans do anything to improve the public safety for Minnesotans. The biggest thing we could do for public safety here in Minnesota is make sure that violent criminals go to prison,”

— Jordan Rasmusson, Republican State Senator (am1100theflag.com)

What’s next

The proposed legislation will now go through the Minnesota state legislature, where it is expected to face significant opposition from Republican lawmakers.

The takeaway

This gun control legislation highlights the ongoing political divide in Minnesota over how to address gun violence, with Democrats pushing for new restrictions and Republicans arguing the focus should be on imprisoning violent criminals instead.