Minnesota Governor and Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz found himself unexpectedly at the center of a social media storm this week, with critics of the National Rifle Association (NRA) coming to his defense after the gun lobby attempted to undermine his credibility on firearm use.
The controversy began when the NRA posted a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, showing Walz with a shotgun. The video, set to circus music, claimed that Walz was struggling to load the firearm, sarcastically captioning it with “that dog don’t hunt.” The association sought to cast doubt on Walz’s hunting credentials and firearm proficiency, questioning a past comment in which he stated that he kept a shotgun in his car to hunt pheasants after football practice.
However, what the NRA intended as mockery quickly backfired. Social media users, including gun owners, were quick to point out that Walz wasn’t loading the firearm at all—he was unloading it safely. A community note was added to the NRA’s post, explaining that Walz was correctly handling the shotgun according to firearm safety protocols, and linking to a YouTube video showing the proper procedure for unloading a shotgun.
This reversal triggered a wave of responses mocking the NRA. “Community Note on proper gun use to the NRA? Straight gold,” one user commented, highlighting the irony of the organization being fact-checked on gun safety. Others, like Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was tragically killed in the Parkland school shooting, took the opportunity to criticize the NRA’s stance on gun safety. “This is the NRA proving that they know nothing about gun safety and preventing people from getting shot,” Guttenberg wrote, praising Walz for his responsible firearm handling.
The incident comes at a time when Walz’s past as a gun owner and supporter of the Second Amendment has been a point of focus in his political career. Once given an A rating by the NRA for his advocacy of gun rights, Walz has since shifted towards supporting gun reform measures, including background checks and “red flag” laws, a move that has put him at odds with the organization in recent years. Despite the criticism, Walz has stood firm on his belief that responsible gun ownership and common-sense safety measures can coexist.
“I know guns. I’m a veteran, a hunter, and I was a better shot than most Republicans in Congress—and I’ve got the trophies to prove it,” Walz remarked during the Democratic National Convention in August. “But I’m also a dad. I believe in the Second Amendment. But our first responsibility is to keep our kids safe.”
This commitment to safety is something Walz has reiterated on the campaign trail alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, who has also made gun reform a core issue in their platform. Both Walz and Harris advocate for background checks and “red flag” laws on a national level, arguing these measures are necessary to curb gun violence while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners.
The NRA’s attempted takedown of Walz has inadvertently amplified these messages, drawing attention to Walz’s balanced approach to gun ownership. In contrast, the NRA continues to struggle with its own public image, tarnished by corruption scandals and internal strife, further weakening its once-formidable influence. Their latest misstep, being corrected on gun safety, only compounds these challenges.
The episode also highlighted the unpredictable nature of social media’s impact on politics. While the NRA sought to paint Walz as inexperienced with firearms, the platform’s community notes function and a flood of responses flipped the narrative in Walz’s favor, making the organization appear out of touch with both firearm safety and public opinion.
In the broader political context, Walz’s stance on guns aligns with a significant portion of the electorate who support moderate reforms aimed at reducing gun violence without infringing on constitutional rights. The viral moment has provided Walz with an unexpected boost, reinforcing his image as a responsible gun owner and champion of sensible gun reforms, all while turning a potentially damaging attack into a political win.