Gun control bill signed by Gov. Walz amid crime wave struck down

 

A federal appeals court has ruled that Minnesota’s law barring individuals aged 18 to 20 from obtaining permits to carry firearms is unconstitutional, a decision that has sparked criticism of Governor Tim Walz’s stance on the Second Amendment.

The ruling was welcomed by Republican Minnesota Representative Pete Stauber, who expressed support for the court’s decision. “As a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, I welcome the federal appeals court’s decision regarding Minnesota’s law. This ruling affirms the constitutional rights of all law-abiding citizens to bear arms,” Stauber said in a statement to Fox News Digital. He emphasized the importance of the ruling, particularly in the context of rising crime rates, arguing that it is crucial for individuals to have the means to protect themselves and their families.

Stauber, who has served in the House of Representatives since January 2019, has a background in law enforcement and has been vocal about public safety issues. He criticized Governor Walz’s administration for taking positions that he and others view as antagonistic toward the Second Amendment. “Governor Walz’s administration has indeed taken positions that many, including myself, view as hostile toward the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment. This ruling is a reminder of the importance of protecting these liberties against overreach,” Stauber continued.

Governor Walz, who was recently added as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate for the 2024 Democratic ticket, has faced criticism for his evolving stance on gun rights. During his time in Congress from 2007 to 2019, representing a district that typically voted Republican, Walz was considered a supporter of gun rights and hunting. However, since becoming governor, he has championed gun control measures, which has led to criticism from the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The NRA labeled Walz a “political chameleon” in a statement provided to Fox News Digital, accusing him of changing his positions to further his personal agenda. “Tim Walz is a political chameleon – changing his positions to further his own personal agenda. In Congress, Walz purported to be a friend of gun owners to receive their support in his rural Minnesota district. Once he had his eyes set on other offices, he sold out law-abiding Minnesotans and promoted a radical gun control agenda that emboldened criminals and left everyday citizens defenseless,” Randy Kozuch, chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund, said in the statement.

Walz has acknowledged that his views on guns have evolved, writing in a 2018 op-ed that he has “always been a reformer.” His previous support for gun rights stands in contrast to Harris’ recent celebrations of the Biden administration’s efforts to confront the NRA, citing Biden’s past work as a senator when he voted to ban semi-automatic firearms in 1994 as part of a major crime bill.

Since Walz took office as governor in 2019, violent crime has increased in Minnesota. Data from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety shows that in 2018, the year before Walz took office, the state recorded 104 murders. This figure rose to 117 murders in 2019 and spiked to 185 in 2020, a year when violent crime surged nationwide. In 2021, the state recorded 201 murders, 182 in 2022, and 172 in 2023. The average number of murders in the state each year during the four years before Walz took office was 113, compared to an average of 171 murders per year during his five years as governor.