The governor of Minnesota has a long road ahead of him as he goes on the campaign trail during a time of high nationwide disenchantment regarding politics. But Walz is not shying away from the challenge. Rather, he’s sticking to his guns, while vocally pushing back against his opponents, including the National Rifle Association (NRA).

It might seem a little out of the norm or against the commonly held stereotype for a known former veteran and hunter to be pro-gun-control. But Walz explained in last year’s annual State of the State that it’s this exact experience that informs his desire to pass legislation that involves greater arms regulation.

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“I know guns as well as anyone else in this room,” Walz said at the Minnesota Capitol building in 2023, adding that he is “one of the best shots in Congress” and has the trophy to prove it. Walz recently called out Republican running mate JD Vance for building his reputation off an image of being a rural boy that he can’t back up.

“That’s what JD Vance’s schtick is, talking about guns. I guarantee you he can’t shoot pheasants like I can,” Walz told CNN’s Anderson Cooper in July. While the Democrat uses his former military experience (Walz served in the National Guard for 24 years) as a touchstone, he pushes back on that label as his only identifier. 

“I’m sick and tired of talking about all that when we talk about gun safety,” he said of his proclivities for hunting and army past. “Because I’m not just a veteran, or a hunter, or a gun owner. I’m a dad. And for many years, I was a teacher.” 

Indeed, Walz was also a classroom teacher for over 20 years. And in the absence of legislation that restricts guns, educators have been thrust into the national debate while worrying about their protection against mass shootings. “I know that there’s no place for weapons of war in our schools, or in our churches, or in our banks, or anywhere else people are just trying to live their lives without fear,” he added.

Walz’s relationship with the NRA isn’t exactly straightforward. During his stint as a congressman, Walz was endorsed and received donations from the lobbying group, according to the New York Times. That backing frayed as Walz stepped away from the NRA while supporting gun restrictions in 2018, according to the Times. In 2017, Walz announced he’d donate all campaign contributions from the NRA to charity. 

He cited the Parkland high school shooting in February 2018 as a final straw that motivated him to speak out. His daughter, then a teenager, pushed him to use his platform to tackle gun violence, per the Washington Post. 

“I got an A rating from the NRA my first term in Congress. Now I get straight F’s. And I sleep just fine,” Walz said in his 2023 address, adding that everyone knows gun violence is an issue but are “just used to being bullied by the gun lobby.” The NRA, which has recently waned in influence, has a history of playing a large hand in elections, having spent more than $50 million to back Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential race. 

This past May, Walz signed a gun-safety bill that included historic measures like universal background checks and a red-flag law that “allows law enforcement to intervene when someone is at high risk of injuring themselves or others with a firearm.” He outlined his intent to pass such legislation the year prior in his address. 

“I’m not going to let anyone hide behind thoughts and prayers when what we need is action now,” he said.