GIFFORDS applauds Gov. Walz and MN legislators for signing key domestic violence bill into law

WASHINGTON — GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement celebrating Governor Tim Walz signing a key domestic violence bill into law.

“Women are five times more likely to be killed when an abusive partner has access to a firearm. Governor Walz and Minnesota legislators worked across the aisle to save lives by passing and signing this critical bill into law. This legislation will make it easier to keep guns out of the hands of abusive partners, curb gun crime and build a safer future for Minnesota’s families,” said former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

The bipartisan bill establishes new requirements for individuals subject to domestic abuse protective orders or with a domestic violence conviction who choose to surrender their guns to a third party rather than to police or to a firearm dealer. The law requires that guns be relinquished to someone outside of their household, and will ensure that police supervise the firearm surrender. 

The bill also includes provisions which will:

Research shows an abusive partner’s access to a firearm is a serious threat to victims of domestic violence, making it five times more likely that a woman will be killed. Domestic violence assaults involving a gun are 12 times more likely to result in death than those involving other weapons or bodily force.

In 2025, Minnesota earned a B on the GIFFORDS Annual Gun Law Scorecard. On average, more than 500 people die by gun violence each year in Minnesota, and gun violence continues to be the leading cause of death for kids and teens.