Minnesota Governor-elect Amy Klobuchar, who has positioned herself as a moderate during her years in Congress, is facing blowback over comments made shortly after the election suggesting she will push for gun control when she takes office.
“The gun safety bill is going to get passed, and I am so excited to be working with the leaders on this, and it certainly should be one of our top priorities,” Klobuchar said during a press conference. “I think that bill makes a lot of sense. I’m sure that we’ll make some changes … but the basics of that bill I hope will remain in place.”
The bill Klobuchar referenced is SF 4067, an omnibus gun-control package that passed the Minnesota Senate 34-33 earlier this year but has not received a House vote. The measure would prohibit federally licensed firearms dealers from selling certain semiautomatic military-style assault weapons, including AR-15s, as well as large-capacity magazines capable of holding more than 17 rounds.
The legislation would allow current owners to keep the covered firearms and magazines, but require them to obtain an ownership certification from the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and renew that certification every three years. Knowingly possessing an uncertified weapon or magazine would be a gross misdemeanor, with a subsequent violation punishable as a felony.
Klobuchar quickly faced criticism from conservatives and pro-Second Amendment groups on social media, accusing her of pushing a liberal gun control agenda on law-abiding Minnesotans, particularly in rural areas.
“Democrats don’t care about affordability. They only care about taking away our Second Amendment rights,” conservative communicator Steve Guest posted on X. “Amy Klobuchar can’t contain her excitement as she goes after law-abiding gun owners.”
“In one of her first acts as governor-elect, Sen. @amyklobuchar affirmed that she will go after Minnesotans’ firearms under the guise of ‘safety,’” the National Rifle Association (NRA) posted on X.
“When Amy Klobuchar told you over and over she was going to do a top-to-bottom audit, she meant of your guns, not your tax dollars,” Minnesota attorney and former immigration judge Nathan Hansen posted on X.
DEMOCRATS’ LATEST GUN-CONTROL PUSH RUNS INTO INCONVENIENT FACT ABOUT HOW SCHOOL KILLER WAS STOPPED
“Why are you babbling about gun control?” Minnesota Miners, a pro-mining grassroots nonprofit in Minnesota, posted on X. “Instead you should be coming out with your plan to stop government fraud and lowering taxes. But you can’t do that you have to come out attacking & trying to violate lawful gun owners constitutional rights.”
“We have a duty to our nation to not comply,” Minnesota Republican state Rep. Ben Davis posted on X. “Resist.”
“AMY KLOBUCHAR ISN’T EVEN SWORN IN AND SHE’S ALREADY COMING FOR MINNESOTA’S RIFLES,” conservative influencer Gunther Eagleman posted on X.
Fox News Digital reached out to Klobuchar’s team for comment on what aspects of the bill she does and does not support but did not receive a response.
“I am committed as ever to moving our state forward, not moving our state to the left or to the right, but moving our state forward,” Klobuchar said during the press conference.
Klobuchar, who has served as a Minnesota senator since 2007, defeated Minnesota Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth 13 points in the gubernatorial election earlier this month and will take office in January, replacing Gov. Tim Walz, who dropped his re-election bid in January amid fallout from a massive fraud scandal.