8 October 2024
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan purchased a pheasant hunting license on Monday, Oct. 7, and shared that she became a first-time gun owner last week.
In an audio recording provided by the governor’s office, Flanagan explained after purchasing her license Monday morning that she’s hunted many times before but never with her own gun — and that she needed something lighter.
A representative from the lieutenant governor’s office said Flanagan purchased a 20-gauge Benelli at Joe’s Sporting Goods in St. Paul on Tuesday, Oct. 1, in preparation for the annual Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Season Opener in Sleepy Eye on Oct. 11-12.
After purchasing her hunting license at the Department of Natural Resources office Monday morning, Flanagan took some time to discuss gun safety with those on site.
“As a mom with a kiddo at home and a busy household, I cannot stress enough the importance of storing guns safely,” she said.
Flanagan said she can’t wait to take her daughter Quincy hunting one day, but said that she wants “to demonstrate that these are powerful weapons that should be treated as such.” She said her family discussed what bringing the firearm home and safe storage would look like prior to purchasing it.
Bob Jacobson, commissioner of Public Safety, spoke after Flanagan, making some remarks on proper gun storage.
“We are all very concerned and interested in safe storage of firearms,” he said. “We know that’s important. There have been far too many tragedies that have occurred in the state of Minnesota and across our country with a lack of safe storage.”
Jacobson advised locking firearms in a safe when not in use and keeping ammunition stored separately. He said the Department of Public Safety has given out over 80,000 free gun locks, and said the Department of Natural Resources gives them out as well.
“I’m proud to live in a state where we can have our Second Amendment rights and be gun owners, but also enact common sense gun laws that offer resources to help gun owners store their guns safely,” Flanagan said.
Only one gun safety bill passed last session: a ban on binary triggers and increased straw purchase penalties.
The safe storage and reporting of lost or stolen firearms bills both died. Flanagan said she predicts she will bring back the safe storage bill this session, “in partnership with the Legislature.”
Flanagan also spoke about previous season openers with Gov. Tim Walz, who is currently campaigning as the Democratic nominee for vice president.
“I have to say that normally, I have a little FOMO [fear of missing out] when I am watching the governor and the vice president on the campaign trail having a blast, throwing snacks to each other across the aisle,” she said, in reference to a video that went viral of Vice President Kamala Harris and Walz picking out snacks in a gas station. “But today, I think the governor probably wishes that he was here with all of us getting ready for one of his favorite events, which is the pheasant opener and pheasant hunting season.”
Flanagan, upon being asked whether Walz would be making an appearance at the opener in Sleepy Eye, said she was unable to confirm whether he’d be attending.
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