THE DIFFERENT -- FRANKLY, THE LEVEL OF RISK.

>> ERIC: LOTS TO TALK ABOUT THIS SOMBER WEEK, SO LET'S GET RIGHT TO TONIGHT'S POLITICAL PANEL.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST.

KURT DAUDT IS A FORMER MINNESOTA HOUSE SPEAKER, NOW A POLITICAL CONSULTANT.

FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW AN ATTORNEY.

DEMOCRATS WITH THEM, KARLA BIGHAM IS A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER WHO SERVED IN BOTH LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS, SHE'S NOW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

AND ALYSEN NESSE IS A DFL LOYALIST AND LOBBYIST UP AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

AT THE END OF A TOUGH WEEK.

THE INK ISN'T DRY ON THE POLICE REPORT, AND BOTH PARTIES ARE OUT WITH POLITICAL POINTS ON GUNS, MENTAL ILLNESS.

TOO SOON?

>> I THINK, ACTUALLY, MINNESOTANS WANT ACTION.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT HARPER AND FLETCHER DESERVE IS ACTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DISCUSSIONS OF WHAT THOSE DETAILS ARE WILL, YOU KNOW, COME IN THE COMING WEEKS.

I DO BELIEVE THE INVESTIGATION IS IMPORTANT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS TO STOP!

WE CANNOT HAVE WHERE SCHOOLS ARE HAVING THIS VIOLENCE WHERE YOU CAN'T GO TO A MALL, A GRADUATION CEREMONY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

WE CAN'T NORMALIZE THIS.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

THEY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, WE'VE HAD A TOUGH SUMMER, HAVEN'T WE?

IT DOES HAVE TO STOP.

I THINK ONE THING THAT HASN'T BEEN TALKED ABOUT IS THE POLITICAL RHETORIC.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T -- THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ANALYSIS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED OR WHY THIS HAPPENED.

BUT DEFINITELY WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS NOT WELL, WHO DID THIS OUT OF ANGER AND HATE.

AND, FRANKLY, I THINK WAS RADICALIZED.

I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT.

AND I THINK OT RADICALIZED BY SOME FOREIGN NATION OR SOME OVERSEAS TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

RADICALIZED BY POLITICAL SPEECH RIGHT HERE IN OUR COUNTRY.

BY POLITICAL SPEECH THAT COMES FROM SOME LEADERS RIGHT HERE IN OUR STATE.

AND AFTER WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER IN THE SUMMER WITH OUR FORMER SPEAKER, AND THE OTHER -- YOU KNOW, HER HUSBAND AND THE OTHER FAMILY, I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION, THAT WHEN WE SAY SOMEONE'S A FASCIST OR A MURDERER, OR THIS OR THAT, PEOPLE AT HOME DOESN'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S AN EXAGGERATION OR THAT IT'S RHETORIC.

>> Eric: THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING TO LEGISLATORS ABOUT A SPECIAL SESSION ON GUNS.

>> YEAH.

THAT DID COME OUT TODAY.

OF COURSE, THERE IS A CHALLENGE WITH A TIED HOUSE AND, FRANKLY, THE SENATE BEING 33-32 FOR THE MOMENT, WITH TWO VACANCIES.

SO, ANYTHING THAT PASSES WOULD NEED TO BE A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

I THINK MINNESOTANS ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE RHETORIC, AS KURT JUST SAID, AND THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS.

AND THERE ARE COMMON-SENSE SOLUTIONS.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, TO GET BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION, YEAH, I DO THINK IT'S A LITTLE SOON.

I THINK THAT SOME DEFERENCE NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO THAT WHOLE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S ABOUT AS TIGHT A CATHOLIC COMMUNITY AS THERE IS.

IT'S RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE TWIN CITIES.

I MEAN, YOU PUT IT ON A MAP, AND IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

IT'S ONE OF THE BETTER KNOWN, AND THAT SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE BETTER ELEMENTARY -- CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AND I JUST -- IT'S BEYOND IMAGINING FOR ME HOW YOU WOULD RECOVER FROM SOMETHING LIKE THIS BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THE TARGETING THAT HAPPENED HERE.

THIS WASN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, PRAYER, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, A PRAYER SERVICE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THIS WAS A CATHOLIC MASS, WHICH IF YOU'RE CATHOLIC, IS THE ABSOLUTE CENTRAL PART F YOUR RELIGION AND YOUR PRACTICE, AND IT'S SACRED AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IS UNTOUCHABLE AND INVIABLE.

AND YOU PUT THE KIDS IN THERE, THE MOST INNOCENT GROUP IN THERE, AND IT JUST STRIKES RIGHT EXACTLY AT THE HEART OF A COMMUNITY LIKE THAT.

AND I JUST -- YOU KNOW, I PRAY FOR THEM.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT APPARENTLY FASHIONABLE IN SOME CIRCLES.

BUT I PRAY OR THEM.

YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY HOPE AND BELIEVE THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RECOVER, BUT I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD BE LIKE.

>> I PRAY FOR THEM, TOO.

AND IT ALSO HAS TO COME WITH SOME CTIONMENT AND I THINK THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO COME TOGETHER TO HAVE ACTION.

AND I THINK -- >> Eric: BUT WHAT ACTION?

ASSAULT WEAPON BAN?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD BE WALKING AROUND BEING ABLE TO POP OFF 116 ROUNDS, ERIC.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A HANDGUN OR A SHOTGUN.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT IS, YOU KNOW, THREAT ASSESSMENTS, WHETHER IT IS MENTAL HEALTH, I MEAN, WHY -- WE ARE CUTTING -- MEDICAID IS BEING CUT THAT REALLY GIVES, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH HEALTHCARE TO FOLKS, SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE CUT AS A RESULT OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T TAKE AWAY SERVICES THAT PEOPLE THAT CLEARLY ARE IN CRISIS, YOU KNOW, AS HAS BEEN STATED, NEED.

LIKE WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT TOO.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS SAY THAT IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE DECENT GUN CONTROL, DEMOCRATS COULD HAVE DONE IT IN 2023, WHEN THEY CONTROLLED ALL LEVELS OF POWER AT THE LEGISLATURE.

>> YUP.

AND THEY DID.

>> EVERYTHING BUT THE ASSAULT WEAPONS.

>> NO.

THERE'S A LOT OF -- THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN COVER, BUT THE DFL TRIFECTA DID PASS A RED FLAG LAW, AS WELL AS MORE EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECKS.

A RED FLAG LAW ONLY WORK AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT NEED TO ENFORCE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE AND, FRANKLY, KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THEM.

SO THEY CAN'T STOP EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S A STEP.

BUT THERE'S OTHER THINGS, LIKE SAFE STORAGE, AND THE SEPARATION OF AMMUNITION AND GUNS.

GUNS ARE THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO GET SO PARTISAN ABOUT IT.

>> ONE OF -- WELL, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK MIGHT BE VISITED IN A CONVERSATION ON THE TOPIC OVERALL IS AID THAT WAS DENIED, ESSENTIALLY, WHEN REQUESTED.

SIX ARCHDIOCESES IN MINNESOTA ALL TOGETHER REQUESTED TO BE COVERED THE SAME WAY WHEN THEY WERE PASSING LEGISLATION THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, MAKING SCHOOLS SAFER.

THERE WAS LEGISLATION, A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY, THEY WERE SAYING, COUNT US IN, TOO, OUR KIDS NEED TO BE PROTECTED, TOO.

AND THERE WAS A SUBSEQUENT ONE WHERE THEY DID GRANT AIDS AND SO FORTH.

AND, AGAIN, THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, I BELIEVE ALSO OTHERS, WERE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT NONE OF THAT WOULD HAVE IMPACTED THIS SITUATION, BUT YOU ONDER.

AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A VERY NICE THING, A NICE FOOT FORWARD IF THE DFL AND THE GOVERNOR, IN PARTICULAR, WANTED TO HAVE A DIALOGUE ABOUT THIS OVERALL, THAT WOULD BE ONE THING THAT THEY COULD COME UP WITH AND SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THIS, LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ON TOP OF THAT ABOUT GUNS.

>> ERIC, I'LL SAY, TOO, ON THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN, I'LL JUST REMIND FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A FEDERAL ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN FROM 1994 TO 2004.

AND THERE WERE MORE ASSAULT WEAPONS SOLD DURING THAT BAN THAN BEFORE OR AFTER THAT BAN.

THE REALITY IS, THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES AN ASSAULT WEAPON AN ASSAULT WEAPON IS THE WAY THAT IT LOOKS.

IT STILL ONLY FIRES ONE BULLET WHEN YOU PULL THE TRIGGER ONE TIME, WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME AS THE SHOTGUN AND THE PISTOL THAT WERE ALSO FOUND AT THE SCENE.

AND I THINK FOLKS GET NERVOUS IF YOU SAY, WE'RE GOING TO BAN ALL SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPONS, THAT'S ALMOST ALL GUNS THAT ARE SOLD FOR SPORTING, FOR HUNTING, FOR, YOU KNOW, THE FASTEST-GROWING SPORT IN HIGH SCHOOL IS TRAP SHOOTING.

AND I HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THESE KIDS ALMOST HAVE A MANDATORY GUN SAFETY TRAINING IN SCHOOL SO THEY UNDERSTAND -- I REMEMBER WATCHING VIDEOS HEN I WENT THROUGH GUN SAFETY BEFORE I COULD GET A HUNTING LICENSE.

>> Cathy: WHAT ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE OF THIS?

THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE.

AND THAT'S THE THING THAT EVERY SINGLE HOOTER OR EVEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE USED KNIVES OR OTHER WEAPONS IN MASS KILLINGS, THEY ALL HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND I USED TO SAY WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, IT'S THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE BEGUN TO ADMIRE.

AND WE HAVEN'T TAKEN REAL STEPS TO SOLVE IT.

I REMEMBER FOLKS GETTING -- THERE'S NO BEDS FOR SOMEBODY WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AND WE WERE CHECKING PEOPLE INTO EMERGENCY ROOMS OR 100 DAYS, AND THAT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND THE LEAST EFFECTIVE PLACE TO TREAT SOMEBODY WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.

>> YOU KNOW, ONE THING WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT, AND THIS REALLY IMPACTS THE COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMUNITY IS HURTING RIGHT NOW, AND THEY'RE WANTING ACTION, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TRAUMA THAT THESE EVENTS PUT ON OUR POLICE, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THE DOCTORS, TOO, THAT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

THE FAMILIES.

I MEAN, ACTION IS NEEDED ON THIS, AND I JUST THINK THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT, I THINK THERE ARE GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION THAT CAN HAPPEN AND I JUST THINK THAT MINNESOTANS ARE WANTING THEM TO COME TOGETHER TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> Cathy: IF I'M HEARING YOU ALL CORRECTLY, ARE YOU THINKING THAT A SPECIAL SESSION ON GUNS WOULD JUST BE A BIG MESS ULTIMATELY?

>> I THINK IF DEMOCRATS WERE SERIOUS, AND IF THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD DO IT, AND WHEN THEY DIG INTO HOW YOU WOULD DO IT, THEY REALIZE IT REALLY CAN'T BE DONE.

THEY TRIED IT IN THE PAST AND IT DIDN'T WORK.

SO THERE'S NOT A REAL WAY TO DO IT.

AND I THINK A DEMOCRAT RUSHING TO A MICROPHONE RIGHT NOW TO SAY, WE HAVE TO DO THIS, WE HAVE TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION, WHY HAVEN'T THEY DONE IT ALREADY?

IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

IN MY POLITICAL CAREER, TWO TIMES, AND I WAS ONLY IN FOR 13 YEARS, TWO TIMES DEMOCRATS HAD COMPLETE CONTROL OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND THEY DIDN'T DO IT BECAUSE THEY KNOW -- BILL CLINTON TRIED IT BACK IN THE '70s -- BACK IN THE '90s AND IT DIDN'T WORK.

IT'S VERY INCREDIBLY HARD TO DO.

>> Eric: REAL QUICK, RUMOR, HELP US WITH THE RUMOR.

GOVERNOR WALZ -- >> WHICH ONE?

>> Eric: GOVERNOR WALZ DOESN'T RUN FOR A THIRD TERM.

AMY KLOBUCHAR WINS FOR GOVERNOR.

>> THAT'S THE RUMOR.

>> Eric: IF KLOBUCHAR WINS, SHE APPOINTS WALZ TO HER UNEXPIRED SENATE SEAT.

>> I MEAN, IN A YEAR FULL OF POLITICAL DRAMA, THAT WOULD JUST ADD TO IT.

A RUMOR IT REMAINS.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN ENOUGH NIGHTMARES.

>> Eric: HAS ANYBODY HEARD THAT?

>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HEARING.

>> WE'VE HEARD MANY VERSIONS, MANY SCENARIOS.

>> I THINK WALZ -- >> Eric: IF HE DIDN'T RUN, WOULDN'T THE DOMINOES BE FALLING ALL OVER THE PLACE?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> I THINK SO.

BUT I HEAR THAT HE BEHIND THE SCENES IS TRYING TO LINE UP AMY KLOBUCHAR TO RUN.

>> Cathy: ALTHOUGH HE LAUGHED AT US WHEN ERIC BROUGHT IT UP AT THE STATE FAIR.

>> WELL -- >> Eric: HE DID -- YEAH, HE SAID -- >> HE LIKES TO LAUGH.

>> Eric: HE SAID THE FIRST HE'D HEARD OF IT WAS FROM ME.

>> I DO THINK HE DOES NOT RUN.

I THINK HE'S DAMAGED ENOUGH AFTER HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUN.

HE'S TAKEN ON A LOT OF WATER.

AND I DON'T THINK HE CAN RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

AND I DON'T THINK HE WILL.

>> REALLY EMOTIONALLY TAXING FOR HIM.

THE LOSS OF SPEAKER HORTMAN, HIS GOVERNING PART YER.