Peggy Flanagan says she is a first-time gun owner

Minnesota Gov. Peggy Flanagan acquired a pheasant hunting license Monday and said she owned a gun for the first time last week.

In an audio recording provided by the governor's office after purchasing her license Monday morning, Flanagan explained that she had hunted many times before, but never with her own weapon – and that she needed something lighter.

A representative from the lieutenant governor's office said Flanagan purchased a 20-gauge Benelli shotgun Tuesday at Joe's Sporting Goods in Little Canada in preparation for the annual season opener of the governor's pheasant hunt in Sleepy Eye on Oct. 11 and 12.

After acquiring her hunting license at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources office Monday morning, Flanagan, a Democrat, took some time to talk to local people about gun safety.

“As a mother with a child at home and a busy household, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of storing guns safely,” she said.

Flanagan said she couldn't wait to go hunting with her daughter Siobhan one day, but said she wanted to “demonstrate that these are powerful weapons and should be treated as such.” She said before purchasing it, her family discussed what it would look like to bring the gun home and keep it safe.

Bob Jacobson, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, spoke after Flanagan and made some comments about proper gun storage.

“We are all very concerned and interested in the safe storage of firearms,” he said. “We know this is important. There have been far too many tragedies in the state of Minnesota and across the country because of a lack of safe storage.”

Jacobson recommended locking firearms in a safe when not in use and storing ammunition separately. He said the Department of Public Security has distributed over 80,000 free gun locks and the Department of Natural Resources is also distributing them.

“I am proud to live in a state where we can exercise our Second Amendment rights and be gun owners, but also pass common-sense gun laws that provide resources to help gun owners keep their guns safe,” Flanagan said .

Only one gun safety bill passed last session: a ban on binary triggers and increased penalties for purchasing straws.

Both safe storage and reporting of lost or stolen firearms bills have been discontinued. Flanagan said she expects to bring back the safe storage bill this session “in collaboration with the Legislature.”

Flanagan also discussed past season openers with Gov. Tim Walz, who is currently running as the Democratic candidate for vice president.

“I have to say that I usually have a little FOMO (fear of missing out) watching the governor and vice president have fun on the campaign trail and throw snacks at each other across the aisle,” she said. in reference to a viral video of Vice President Kamala Harris and Walz picking out snacks at a gas station. “But today, I think the governor probably wishes he was here with all of us preparing for one of his favorite events, which is the pheasant opener and pheasant hunting season.”

When Flanagan was asked if Walz would appear in the opening film of “Sleepy Eye,” she said she could not confirm whether he would attend.