Minnesota Gov. Walz Unveils Gun Violence Prevention Package

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz unveiled a comprehensive gun violence prevention package on February 24, 2026, at a press conference in St. Paul, renewing Democratic efforts to enact stricter firearm regulations in the wake of last summer's mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis. The announcement, exactly six months after the August 27 incident that killed two children and wounded more than two dozen others, includes 15 proposals aimed at reducing gun violence while bolstering school safety and mental health resources.

The package addresses multiple aspects of firearm ownership and use. Key measures include a ban on assault weapons, defined as certain semiautomatic rifles and pistols; a prohibition on high-capacity magazines; requirements for safe storage of firearms, particularly semiautomatics, with provisions allowing law enforcement to verify compliance; and mandatory reporting of lost or stolen guns. It also seeks to repass a ban on binary triggers, which accelerate the firing rate of semiautomatic weapons after a court struck down the previous version for violating single-subject rules in state legislation. Additional elements target...