As the amount of money believed to have been defrauded from Minnesota's and America's taxpayers nearly quintupled (as David wrote about on Thursday), the state's embattled governor Tim Walz is frantically trying to deflect to that classic Democrat warhorse, guns.
And as with most things in his regime since 2020, he's doing a comically bad job of it.
In the wake of school shooting last fall, the Governor was all full of vim and vinegar:
“I will call a special session one way or another,” Walz told reporters Tuesday after meeting with Republican and Democratic legislative leaders behind closed doors. “Just have the hope. Just bring it up. Have the discussion … Maybe it doesn’t pass because the numbers aren’t there but at least we’re going to know.”
The governor typically calls a special session once lawmakers agree on what bills will be passed and the duration of the session. Walz has the sole ability to call a special session, but only lawmakers can gavel themselves out, which is typically why the governor and lawmakers come to an agreement beforehand.
Important note in that last paragraph: under the Minnesota constitution, only the Governor can call a special session, but only the legislature can bring forward legislation. And after Walz's initial wave of braggadocio, the proposal went nowhere; the Minnesota House is tied 67-67, meaning nothing passes without bipartisan agreement; on the other hand, the DFL controls the Senate, barely, 34-33. But several outstate DFL senators who barely won election in 2022, from districts Trump won in 2024, really don't want to get slapped with the "gun grabber" label in next year's legislative elections, in the face of a very effective gun rights movement in the state.
After a few weeks of blaming the Republican legislative caucus for not calling a special session - something they have no constitutional power to do, and Walz has all to himself - the Governor, famous for referring to Republicans as Nazis and ICE as "Gestapo" while parading about at "No Kings" rallies, is going to act like a king, rule like a dictator, and empower his...well, let's not get carried away.
He's doing it, to borrow a phrase from Barack Obama, "with his phone and his pen":
Gov. Tim Walz signed two executive orders Tuesday — one establishing a council and another directing state agencies to make gun violence prevention a priority — after several high-profile shootings over the summer and a subsequent failed effort to get the Legislature to pass new gun control laws.
So what is he ordering?
Taking the violently mentally ill more seriously?
Putting more violent criminals in jail?
Please. Have you ever met our governor?
The first order establishes a Governor’s Statewide Safety Council that will create an “immediate action plan” to prevent future mass shootings, targeted attacks and domestic terrorism. The council will include members of the governor’s cabinet, law enforcement, school administrators and a representative from the Annunciation Hope Alliance.
The second order includes a broad directive to state agencies to “protect Minnesotans, particularly minors and vulnerable adults, from gun violence.” It also requires the Department of Public Safety to promote and educate Minnesotans about the state’s extreme risk protection order law, also known as the “red flag” law, and to promote the safe storage of firearms.
So - a "council" of anti-gun DFL allies, and a marketing plan for the state's controversial, easily-abused "red flag" laws.
Oh, yeah - and spying on law-abiding Minnesota gun owners:
The order will also require insurance companies to submit homeowners’ policy and claims data on firearms, using the state’s existing authority to issue “data calls” to recommend possible policy changes to the legislature.
“The insurance companies, they need to let us know what the economic impact is,” said Walz, “We know what the economic impact is. We know what the emotional impact is; now we can quantify it.”
The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus - the state's highly effective Second Amendment group (of which, in the interest of disclosure, I'm a member and volunteer) is not amused:
🚨 Statement from the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus
— MN Gun Owners Caucus (@mnguncaucus) December 17, 2025
We are closely reviewing the legality of Governor Walz’s executive order directing state agencies to gather data from insurance companies, including any information related to firearms owned by peaceable, law-abiding… pic.twitter.com/gItXOeKAD0
The Caucus is 5-0 against the Walz administration in court in the past few years, and I'm sure they're digging a new toner cartridge for the lawsuit printer out of the cabinet today:
The newly announced Statewide Safety Council raises serious concerns. The council is composed entirely of appointed officials and pro–gun control advocates, with no representation from the Second Amendment community. Like similar advisory panels in the past, it appears designed to deliver predetermined recommendations aligned with the Governor’s policy goals rather than to provide balanced input or genuine stakeholder engagement.
During today’s press conference, Governor Walz attacked Speaker Lisa Demuth, Republican leaders, and the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, while refusing to explain why many DFL lawmakers declined to support his proposals to ban so-called assault weapons and standard-capacity magazines. When pressed on why he has not called a special session, he deflected by demonizing Republicans — despite the fact that authority rests solely with the Governor.
Expect a lot more chanting about guns as the price tag for the fraud on Walz's watch keeps spinning like the wheels on a slot machine.
