New Poll: Majority of Minnesotans Demand Assault Weapons Ban; Pressure Mounts As Governor Walz Fails to Call Special Session One Month After Annunciation Church School Shooting

MINNEAPOLIS - One month after the Annunciation Catholic School mass shooting, a new statewide poll shows that Minnesotans overwhelmingly want lawmakers to act: 60% of Minnesota voters believe the legislature should take immediate action to ban assault weapons, with majorities across the political spectrum supporting stronger gun safety laws.

The poll, commissioned by Everytown for Gun Safety, surveyed 800 likely 2026 general election voters in Minnesota from September 11-14. Key findings include:

• 61% support a state-level ban on assault weapons; 64% support banning high-capacity magazines - including majorities of Independents and Moderates.
• 60% of voters say lawmakers should take immediate action to ban assault weapons in light of the Annunciation shooting.
• 88% of Minnesotans are concerned about children being harmed in mass shootings, including 79% of Republicans.
  • Gun violence is among the most urgent issues for the state government to address, surpassing taxes and education.

Despite these findings, Governor Tim Walz has yet to call lawmakers back into a special session. Families who buried their children, survivors still in hospital beds, faith leaders, medical professionals, and students who walked out of classrooms across Minnesota are demanding action.

"The people of Minnesota have spoken loud and clear: they want assault weapons banned, and they want it done now," said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. "Governor Walz promised leadership, but one month after kids were shot while praying, Minnesotans are still waiting for him to call a special session.

"Parents are sending their children to school every day wondering if they'll come home alive," said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, founder of Moms Demand Action. "This poll confirms what we've heard in vigils, classrooms, and communities: Minnesotans want action on gun safety. Governor Walz must honor that call."

"We don't need more thoughts and prayers. We need a special session, and we need it now," said Timberlyn Mazeikis, volunteer with Students Demand Action and survivor of the 2023 Michigan State University shooting. "If leaders continue to turn a blind eye while children are shot in schools, then they are abandoning their responsibility to protect us."

"Our state has endured the trauma of yet another mass shooting carried out with weapons of war, and Minnesotans are demanding change," said Carla Gillespie, a volunteer with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action. "Minnesota communities have made their call for action clear: we want an assault weapons ban. The Governor has an obligation to act quickly and call a special session to get this done, our kids' lives depend on it."

Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are weapons of war designed for maximum lethality on the battlefield and do not belong in our classrooms, churches, or communities. From 2015 to 2022, mass shootings with four or more people killed where large-capacity magazines were used resulted in nearly five times as many people shot, more than twice as many people killed, and nearly 10 times as many people wounded per incident, on average. Additionally, at least eight of the ten deadliest mass shootings involved a large-capacity magazine.

When the federal assault weapons ban was in place, it worked, and state-level bans are proven to save lives. State-level assault weapon bans are associated with a lower likelihood of an active shooter event. Ten states and Washington, DC, have enacted legislation to prohibit assault weapons.

Gun violence costs Minnesota $6.6 billion each year, including $105.5 million paid by taxpayers. In an average year, 527 Minnesotans are killed by guns and 1,174 more are wounded, including 39 children and teens.

The poll is clear. Minnesotans want a special session to ban assault weapons. Governor Walz must decide whether he will stand with grieving families or continue to do nothing.