Having trouble viewing this email?  [ [link removed] ]View it as a Web page [ [link removed] ].






Gander




*October 10, 2025*






Interim News

Dear friends and neighbors,

I hope you’re enjoying the beauty of the changing seasons. For many, harvest is wrapping up, lake cabins are being tucked away for winter, and deer stands are getting a fresh round of repairs before the big hunt. It’s that time of year to dust off the rifle and make sure your aim is as sharp as your sense of humor (though I’m convinced mine needs more tuning than the gun does).

We’ll probably have to wrangle the leaves once or twice more before the white stuff starts to fall. And as October rolls on, keep an eye out for the goblins, skeletons, and trick-or-treaters that will soon take over our neighborhoods!

It might be the wrong season for fireworks, but there were plenty lighting up Minneapolis last weekend. Governor Tim Walz teamed up with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker [ [link removed] ] at the North Star Summit—and let’s just say sparks weren’t in short supply. I sure hope Walz isn’t planning to use Chicago as a role model—where Cook County consistently ranks among the nation’s highest in murder and violent crime. Walz was alarmed over the possibility that President Trump may deploy the National Guard into Minnesota. Walz said," “I think it’s logical for them to come here. We fall into exactly what they’re trying to target—blue cities in places that he wants to make an impact.”" The Governor is convinced that this is "“""*not normal.*"”

Well, Governor—do you know what is actually not normal? Terrorist threats in our children’s schools. Antisemitic vandalism targeting daycares. Gunfire echoing through our downtown streets. Minnesotans want the message sent loud and clear: *crime doesn’t pay, and criminals will be prosecuted.*

Just this week, daycare children arrived Wednesday morning to find their care center defaced with vile antisemitic graffiti [ [link removed] ]—messages like "“Watch out Zionists,” “F"*** Zionism,” and "“Al-Aqsa Flood,”" the same name Hamas used for its brutal October 7th attack on Israel [ [link removed] ]. This act of hate came on the two-year anniversary of those deadly killings.

Also this week, a St. Paul bar bouncer was charged with first-degree manslaughter [ [link removed] ] after punching a customer who fell, hit his head, and later died. In another senseless act of violence, one person was killed and three others injured in a downtown Minneapolis bar shooting Tuesday night [ [link removed] ]. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said it best: "“An argument inside a crowded bar should never end in gunfire and a loss of life.”"

These are just a few of this week’s tragedies—not to mention the ongoing fraud and corruption plaguing our state under the watch of Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose name has been tied to the Feeding Our Future scandal [ [link removed] ]. Minnesota’s problems are not isolated—they’re systemic, and they’re growing worse under failed leadership.

It’s time to face reality: our state is in crisis [ [link removed] ], and it's time for our leaders to step up and meet the moment. When families are afraid to walk downtown, when small businesses close early out of fear, and when law enforcement is stretched beyond its limits, something must change.

Deploying the National Guard isn’t about politics—it’s about restoring peace and protecting innocent lives. If the Governor cannot, or will not, do his job to keep Minnesotans safe, then it becomes the federal government’s duty to step in and ensure stability. *The people of Minnesota deserve safety, not excuses*.

________________________________________________________________________



The Second Amendment: Then and Now

Over the past few weeks, my inbox has been full of messages from Minnesotans sharing their thoughts on how we can make Minnesota safer for everyone. I always appreciate hearing from you, as these are incredibly important discussions that help shape how we craft legislation surrounding public safety and individual rights.

As these debates continue, it’s important to take a step back and look at the constitutional framework that has guided our nation for over two centuries. The Second Amendment [ [link removed] ], ratified in 1791, guarantees the innate right of the people to keep and bear arms. When the Fourteenth Amendment [ [link removed] ] was later adopted in 1868, its purpose was not to change the nature of that right, but to ensure that states could not infringe upon it.

When Senator Jacob Howard introduced the Fourteenth Amendment to Congress, he specifically referenced “the right to keep and bear arms” as one of the “great fundamental guarantees” that states must respect. In other words, the goal was reinforcement, not revision.

Fast forward to modern times, the Supreme Court has been crystal clear in multiple landmark cases — "D.C. v. Heller" (2008), "McDonald v. Chicago" (2010), and "N.Y. State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen" (2022). These decisions consistently uphold that constitutional rights must be interpreted according to their original meaning in 1791. The Court made clear that “when the Second Amendment’s plain text covers an individual’s conduct, the Constitution presumptively protects that conduct,” and any regulation must be consistent with “this Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”

So when people ask, “Does the meaning change over time?” the answer is simple: *no*. There is only "one" Second Amendment—the same one that’s protected Americans since 1791. Its purpose hasn’t changed with the winds of politics or the shift in culture.

Instead of chasing new restrictions that punish law-abiding citizens, we should be focusing our energy on addressing the real causes of violence, strengthening mental health resources, restoring accountability in our justice system, and making sure our schools and public spaces are truly safe.

I’ll always stand firm in my oath to defend the Constitution—every part of it—and that includes the right to keep and bear arms.

________________________________________________________________________



Building a Better Medicaid: Innovation Meets Integrity

This week, I had the opportunity to attend the Medicaid Leaders Development Summit in Washington, D.C., alongside policymakers and experts from all across the nation. The focus? How to deliver quality Medicaid services while maintaining fiscal responsibility in light of the sweeping federal reforms proposed in *H.R. 1 – the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” [ [link removed] ]*

It was a packed few days of discussion on everything from rural health care and mental health access to new technologies that could help us serve Minnesotans more efficiently. While some presenters raised alarms over potential funding cuts, I encouraged a forward-looking approach—one that embraces innovation to cut fraud, waste, and abuse while keeping care within reach for those who truly need it most: children, our senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities.

A major theme of the summit mirrored our own efforts here in Minnesota: modernizing how Medicaid operates. That means smarter use of technology—like AI-driven application systems, improved information sharing between agencies, and oversight tools that ensure providers are billing only for necessary services.

At the end of the day, my commitment remains clear: *we must protect vulnerable Minnesotans while making every taxpayer dollar count.* 

1
________________________________________________________________________



Fighting the Opioid Crisis Together

Polk County is stepping up once again in the fight against the opioid epidemic. In partnership with the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council, the county has opened a second round of grant funding to support prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction efforts right here at home.

Up to $500,000 is available for high-impact projects focused on helping communities most affected by opioid misuse. Organizations can apply for up to $100,000 per project to support work taking place throughout 2026.

If you or someone you know is involved in community health or recovery programs, this could be an excellent resource. Details and application materials can be found [HERE] [ [link removed] ].

Together, we can help more Minnesotans find the path to recovery and hope!

________________________________________________________________________



Staying Connected

As always, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter each week. It truly means a lot to know that so many of you care enough to stay informed about what’s happening here in Minnesota and beyond. Your engagement and feedback remind me why this work matters, because an informed and involved citizenry is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy.

If you ever have questions, concerns, or just want to share your thoughts on an issue, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Hearing directly from you helps guide my work and ensures your voice is represented at the Capitol.

Until next time, stay safe, stay engaged, and stay proud to call Minnesota home!

Sincerely,

Representative Steve Gander

"Minnesota House of Representatives, District 1B"











Facebook Icon [ [link removed] ]

 

/RepSteveGander [ [link removed] ]





2nd Floor Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.5091







________________________________________________________________________

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

This service is provided to you at no charge by Minnesota House GOP [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota House GOP · 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. · Saint Paul, MN 55155 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]