Governor Tim Walz’s decision to bypass the legislative gridlock and issue executive orders addressing gun violence represents a pragmatic, if limited, approach to a pressing public safety issue. When 69% of Minnesotans support an assault weapons ban yet lawmakers remain deadlocked, executive action becomes not just justified but necessary. The governor’s orders—establishing a safety council, providing data on gun violence impacts, and creating education programs for safe storage—acknowledge the reality that incremental progress is better than paralysis in the face of continued gun violence.
The Democratic Process is Working, Just Not Through Traditional Channels
The polling data cited by Governor Walz reveals something profound about Minnesota’s political landscape: support for stricter gun regulations transcends the urban-rural divide that typically characterizes gun policy debates. With 79% of suburban residents and 62% of greater Minnesota supporting an assault weapons ban, the narrative that gun control is solely an urban priority collapses. The 45% support among Republicans—nearly half the party’s voters—further demonstrates this is not a strictly partisan issue.
When elected representatives fail to reflect their constituents’ priorities, executive action serves as a pressure release valve in our democratic system. We’ve seen this dynamic play out nationally as well. After the 2018 Las Vegas massacre that killed 60 people, the Trump administration used executive authority to ban bump stocks when Congress failed to act. Similarly, after the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the Biden administration finalized a rule requiring background checks for ghost guns when legislative solutions stalled.
Critics will inevitably frame Walz’s executive orders as an end-run around the legislature, but this mischaracterizes the constitutional role of executive action. The governor’s authority to establish councils, collect data, and implement educational programs falls squarely within his executive powers. Rather than usurping legislative authority, these orders address immediate needs while respecting constitutional boundaries.
The Limitations of Executive Action Highlight the Need for Legislative Courage
While Walz’s executive orders represent progress, they also illuminate the severe constraints of executive action on gun policy. The orders cannot ban assault weapons, implement universal background checks, or establish red flag laws—all policies with majority support among Minnesotans. These substantive changes require legislative action.
The governor’s call for
