MINNESOTA – Governor Tim Walz has gotten Republican resistance in his efforts to conduct a special legislative session to address gun violence and school safety.
Those in the GOP have not budged as they oppose proposals to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Walz told reporters Tuesday he believes Republicans want to talk about everything else except guns.
A KSTP/Survey USA poll shows 58% of respondents approve of a special session and 28 percent are against it.
Fifty-three percent of respondents support a ban on assault weapons, 35% are against it and 12% are not sure. Sixty-one percent of people living in the Twin Cities metro area support a ban, 45% in Northeastern Minnesota, 44% in the western part of the state and 40% in Southern Minnesota support a ban.
In the Minnesota Senate, there are 33 DFLers 32 Republicans. There are two vacant seats with special elections scheduled for November. There must be 34 votes to pass a bill in the Senate. With the House of Representatives tied at 67 seats per party, it’s doubtful any bill could be passed during a special session until the open Senate seats are filled.
