Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota
As a candidate for Governor of Minnesota, I am compelled to address the irresponsible and misleading reporting by Tom Hauser and KSTP regarding their recent KSTP/SurveyUSA poll claiming a majority of Minnesotans support a special session and an assault-type gun ban. This lazy journalism not only distorts the truth but also undermines the foundational principles of our constitutional republic, which guarantees the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment. The people of Minnesota deserve better than sensationalized narratives that ignore the full context of our laws and the real issues plaguing our state.
Let’s set the record straight: the poll’s findings are skewed by a partisan sample—86% of Democrats support a special session, while only 43% of Republicans and 46% of independents agree. This hardly reflects a true majority when you consider the deep divide among voters. Furthermore, the 53% support for an assault-type gun ban crumbles when you look beyond the Twin Cities, where support drops to just 40-45% in greater Minnesota. This selective reporting conveniently overlooks the voices of rural Minnesotans who understand the importance of self-defense in our constitutional framework.
The truth is clear: violent crime has only worsened in every area where restrictions on gun ownership have been imposed. Look at cities with stringent gun laws—Chicago, New York, and even parts of Minneapolis—where homicides continue to rise despite these measures. The data speaks for itself: in Minnesota, 66% of homicides in 2022 involved guns, and firearm use in aggravated assaults jumped 59% from 2019 to 2024, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Guns are not the problem—our growing mental health crisis is. Yet, Tom Hauser and KSTP fail to highlight that 40% of poll respondents identified mental health as the most critical issue, not guns.
I challenge Tom Hauser and KSTP to explain why they ignore the enforcement of existing laws. With over 1,700 guns stolen in Minnesota in 2021 alone, why aren’t our law enforcement agencies fully utilizing the tools already at their disposal to address illegal gun use? Why aren’t we focusing resources on mental health support and treatment, which research shows could prevent crimes and save society billions, rather than pushing unproven bans that erode our constitutional rights?
This is not about politics—it’s about protecting Minnesotans with truth and accountability. I call on Tom Hauser and KSTP to stop peddling lazy, misleading narratives and start reporting the facts: our constitutional republic stands on the rule of law, and the real crisis is mental health, not law-abiding gun owners. As your next governor, I will prioritize enforcing existing laws, addressing the mental health epidemic, and upholding the rights of all Minnesotans.
Thank you, Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota
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