The state of Minnesota is bracing for a high-stakes political showdown after Governor Tim Walz announced on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, that he will call a special legislative session focused on gun control. The move comes in the immediate aftermath of a devastating mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, where, on August 27, a gunman killed two children—8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski—and wounded 21 others, most of them children. The tragedy has reignited fierce debate over gun policy, school safety, and the political will to enact change in a deeply divided legislature.
Walz, speaking outside Deerwood Elementary in Eagan on the first day of school, did not mince words about the urgency of the moment. “If Minnesota lets this moment slide and we determine that it's OK for little ones to not be safe in a school environment or a church environment, then shame on us,” he declared, as reported by Bring Me The News and other outlets. The governor’s visit to the school was both a show of solidarity with students and staff and a public platform to announce his intention to recall lawmakers for an extraordinary session.
The special session, Walz said, will feature a gun control package that includes an assault weapons ban—one of several measures he described as having been enacted elsewhere “without infringements on people's Second Amendment rights.” He emphasized that the proposals would be comprehensive and data-driven, but also signaled flexibility, stating he was open to Republican suggestions and willing to consider expanding mental health resources as part of the package. “The sad reality of it is that what happened last week is preventable because so many nations around the world do it, and we cannot resign ourselves to believe that our little ones can’t be safe in what should be and always is the most safe environments they can possibly be in, so there’s more work to do there,” Walz told reporters, according to KSTP News.
The political context, however, is fraught with challenges. The Minnesota House is almost evenly split, with Republicans holding 67 seats and Democrats 66 following the June assassination of Democratic-Farmer-Labor caucus leader Melissa Hortman. A special election to fill her seat is scheduled for September 16, which could further influence the legislative balance. The Senate, meanwhile, has a narrow Democratic majority. Walz acknowledged the difficulty of passing controversial legislation in such a divided environment, remarking, “I can call a special session, I can't run a special session. And to be very candid, just in a very evenly divided—I'm going to need some Republicans to break with the orthodoxy and say that we need to do something on guns, and that's the opportunity right now.”
Republican leaders have been quick to criticize Walz’s approach. House Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring issued a statement expressing disappointment in what she characterized as an “overtly political” move by the governor. “House Republicans stand ready to protect students and schools,” Demuth said, adding, “I hope we can have a real conversation about all aspects of safety—including things like the school security funding that was denied by the DFL trifecta in 2023 and more funding for desperately needed mental health resources—instead of vague demands for policies that have not stopped gun violence in other states.” Demuth’s comments, echoed across several outlets, underscore a familiar partisan divide: Democrats push for stricter gun laws, while Republicans argue for increased security and mental health support, often pointing to the limitations of gun control measures elsewhere.
Yet, the political maneuvering may not stop at gun legislation. Republican State Representative Drew Roach of Farmington has signaled his intention to use the special session to attempt to repeal Minnesota’s ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ people. This move comes despite there being no evidence from authorities that the shooter’s possible transgender identity had any bearing on their motives. “Every Minnesotan deserves the right to seek counseling that respects their values, beliefs, and goals,” Roach said in a statement, calling the existing ban “government overreach.”
Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, are forming their own response teams. State Senators Ron Latz of St. Louis Park and Zaynab Mohamed of Minneapolis announced plans to establish a working group focused on “comprehensive gun violence prevention efforts that respond to and prevent future tragedies” like the Annunciation shooting. In a joint statement, they said, “This horrific act of violence requires real action that meets the moment. Together with our colleagues, we will make gun violence prevention our most urgent priority and prevent anything like this ever happening again in any community in Minnesota.”
The emotional toll of the tragedy has galvanized not only politicians but also the families directly affected. The parents of Harper Moyski, one of the young victims, released a statement urging leaders to act: “We urge our leaders and communities to take meaningful steps to address gun violence and the mental health crisis in this country. Change is possible, and it is necessary—so that Harper’s story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies.”
In the wake of the shooting, law enforcement has increased patrols at public and private schools throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul, aiming to reassure anxious families as students return for the new school year. According to reports, the shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, used a rifle, shotgun, and handgun, firing 116 times through the decorative glass windows of the church while students were attending mass. The sheer scale and brutality of the attack have shocked the community and intensified calls for legislative action.
Walz has made clear that, while he is open to bipartisan talks and additional mental health funding, he believes the core issue is the prevalence of firearms. “I am not going to allow anyone to try and make the case that the United States is unique in either mental health issues or other things,” he said. “The thing that makes America unique in terms of shootings is we just have more guns and the wrong types of guns that are on the streets.”
As the political clock ticks toward the special session—its exact timing still uncertain, but likely after the September 16 special election—the stakes are high for both parties. For Democrats, the session represents a chance to force action on a long-standing priority, even at the risk of legislative gridlock. For Republicans, it’s an opportunity to press their own agenda on school safety, mental health, and broader cultural issues.
What happens next in Minnesota will be closely watched—not just by those mourning in Minneapolis, but by lawmakers and advocates nationwide looking for signs of movement in America’s enduring struggle over guns, rights, and the safety of its youngest citizens.
