MN Gun Owners Caucus: 2022 Governor Candidate Grades

[bstrawse]

SAINT PAUL, MN (January 31, 2022) – The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus & Political Action Committee today announces grades for candidates for Minnesota Governor for the 2022 elections.

Michelle Benson (GOP): A
Paul Gazelka (GOP): A
Scott Jensen (GOP): ?
Scott Magie (GOP): A (P)
Mike Murphy (GOP): A (P)
Kendall Qualls (GOP): A (P)
Neil Shah (GOP): A (P)
Tim Walz (DFL): F

“Governor Walz has consistently shown antagonism towards Minnesota’s law-abiding gun owners by repeatedly calling for gun control, ignoring invitations to our forums, and refusing to complete our candidate surveys, ” stated Rob Doar, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs. “Minnesotans who care about the Second Amendment should choose to support an A-rated candidate at Caucus this week.”

Dr. Jensen received a grade of “?” because based on his inconsistent Second Amendment record, it is difficult to grade his candidacy. In 2016, as a State Senate candidate, he submitted and received an “A (P)” survey and our endorsement then later betrayed his campaign pledges by co-authoring two gun control bills. He later dropped his co-authorship of one bill under pressure from our organization and is now once again asking for the support and trust of Minnesota’s law-abiding gun owners.

“We encourage gun owners to consider Dr. Jensen’s full record and then make a decision for themselves on whether or not he is deserving of their support, ” stated Bryan Strawser, Chairman, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus.

The Caucus has launched a website, Scott Jensen on Guns – http://www.scottjensenonguns.com, that provides a factual timeline and source documents of Dr. Jensen’s full record on Second Amendment issues during his time in the Minnesota Senate.

Additional information about the Caucus & PAC’s grades for the 2022 Minnesota Governor Candidate is available on our website at http://gunowners.mn/gov.

[Lumpy]

They can talk the talk but do they walk the walk? Thanks to MNGOC for making sure that candidates know that gun owners have long memories.

[rtk]

Stanek has thrown his hat in the ring, any thoughts on that?

[jdege]

Stanek has thrown his hat in the ring, any thoughts on that?

Stranek was a strong supporter of shall-issue while he was in the legislature, and pretty much played by the book while he was sheriff.

He was, for a bit, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and it was on his watch that DPS stretched the text of 624.714 and set rules for carry permit reciprocity that were far stricter than the authors had intended. My sense is that this is more an instance of his not overriding the start lawyers than it was his own decision. But that's the only quibble I'm aware with respect to his support for gun rights.

Keep in mind, though, that I've very much been on the edges with respect to this. I've not talked to him, and only once talked to one of his staffers, and that very briefly.

[bstrawse]

They can talk the talk but do they walk the walk? Thanks to MNGOC for making sure that candidates know that gun owners have long memories.

3 candidates have legislative histories - 2 have been rock solid (Gazelka, Benson), 1 hasn't (Jensen). The others don't have much of a track record, so all we can do is take their surveys at face value.

b

[bstrawse]

Stanek has thrown his hat in the ring, any thoughts on that?

For Sheriff, we twice gave him an "A" and endorsed him.

He'll get our survey later this week and we'll issue a grade when we get it back. I imagine he'll be an "A". He has an extensive track record on the issue.
b