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Tim Walz, the recently announced<\/a> running mate for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, is well-acquainted with guns, which is why he\u2019s trying to control them.<\/p>\n The governor of Minnesota has a long road ahead of him as he goes on the campaign trail during a time of high nation-wide disenchantment<\/a> regarding politics. But Walz is not shying away from the challenge. Rather, he\u2019s sticking to his guns, while vocally pushing back against his opponents, including, the National Rifle Association (NRA).<\/p>\n 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<\/a> in last year\u2019s annual State of the State that it\u2019s this exact experience that informs his desire to pass legislation that involves greater arms regulation.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI know guns as well as anyone else in this room,\u201d Walz said at the Minnesota Capital building in 2023, adding he is \u201cone of the best shots in Congress\u201d and has the trophy to prove it. Walz recently called out Republican running mate JD Vance for building his reputation off of an image of being a rural-boy that he can\u2019t cash.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what JD Vance\u2019s stick is, talking about guns. I guarantee you he can\u2019t shoot pheasants like I can,\u201d Walz told CNN<\/em>\u2019s Anderson Cooper<\/a> in July. While the Democrat uses his former military experience (Walz served in the National Guard<\/a> for 24 years) as a touchstone, he pushes back on that label as his only identifier.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sick and tired of talking about all that when we talk about gun safety,\u201d he said of his proclivities for hunting and army past. \u201cBecause I\u2019m not just a veteran, or a hunter, or a gun owner. I\u2019m a dad. And for many years, I was a teacher.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Indeed, Walz was also a classroom teacher for over 20 years<\/a>. And in the absence of legislation that restricts guns, educators have been thrust into the national debate while worrying about their protection<\/a> against mass shootings. \u201cI know that there\u2019s 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,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Walz\u2019s relationship with the NRA isn\u2019t exactly straightforward. During his stint as a congressman, Walz was endorsed and received donations from the lobbying group, according to the New York Times.<\/em><\/a> That backing frayed as Walz stepped away from the NRA while supporting gun restrictions in 2018, according to the Times<\/em>. In 2017, Walz announced he\u2019d donate all campaign contributions from the NRA to charity.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI got an A rating from the NRA my first term in Congress. Now I get straight F\u2019s. And I sleep just fine,\u201d Walz said in his 2023 address, adding that everyone knows gun violence is an issue but are \u201cjust used to being bullied by the gun lobby.\u201d The NRA, which has recently waned<\/a> 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<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n This past May<\/a>, Walz signed a gun-safety bill that included historic measures like universal background checks and a red-flag law that \u201callows law enforcement to intervene when someone is at high risk of injuring themselves or others with a firearm.\u201d He outlined his intent to pass such legislation the year prior in his address.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to let anyone hide behind thoughts and prayers when what we need is action now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nRecommended Newsletter:<\/strong> CEO Daily provides key context for the news leaders need to know from across the world of business. Every weekday morning, more than 125,000 readers trust CEO Daily for insights about\u2013and from inside\u2013the C-suite. Subscribe Now<\/a>.<\/div>\n