We can protect the Second Amendment and reduce gun deaths.
Erik grew up in Upsala, Minnesota. He’s a hunter, a responsible gun owner, and a firm believer in the Second Amendment.
That matters.
For Erik, gun ownership is not a political talking point. It is part of life in rural Minnesota, tied to responsibility, safety, and family traditions passed down through generations.
So let’s be clear from the start: Erik is not running to take guns away from responsible, law-abiding gun owners.
However, he believes we cannot ignore the reality of gun violence in this country.
Too many Americans are dying from gun-related injuries. Too many families are losing loved ones to suicide, domestic violence, accidental shootings, and acts of violence that should never happen. Too many kids are growing up practicing active shooter drills in schools.
Erik grew up practicing tornado drills.
That much change in one generation should make all of us stop and think.
We can hold two things at once: a serious belief in the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, and a serious commitment to reducing gun deaths.
Those are not opposites.
They never were.
Erik’s Priorities
Erik will fight to:
- Defend the Second Amendment rights of responsible, law-abiding gun owners
- Treat gun safety as a serious public health and public safety issue
- Support background checks that keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them
- Support waiting periods that can help prevent impulsive acts of violence and suicide
- Support red flag laws with strong due process protections
- Address the connection between domestic violence and gun violence
- Protect responsible gun ownership while closing gaps that put families and communities at risk
- Evaluate every gun-related bill by whether it reduces harm while respecting constitutional rights
…by treating gun safety the way responsible gun owners already do: seriously, carefully, and with respect for both rights and responsibility. We can protect the Second Amendment and reduce gun deaths. We can do both.
Respect the Second Amendment
The Second Amendment reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Erik believes in that right.
He owns firearms. He hunts. He understands what guns mean to families across Western Minnesota — for recreation, food, protection, and a way of life passed down through generations.
That is not a political position for him. It is personal.
Erik also believes the words “well regulated” appear in the amendment for a reason. The founders understood that rights exist within a framework of law and civic responsibility. Acknowledging that is not a threat to gun ownership. It is an honest reading of the text.
Responsible gun owners already understand this. They secure their firearms. They teach safety. They respect what guns can do. They know owning a firearm is not casual.
Erik will defend the rights of responsible, law-abiding gun owners and oppose efforts that treat them like the problem.
Take Gun Violence Seriously
Gun violence is not one single problem.
It includes suicide, domestic violence, accidental shootings, community violence, mass shootings, and children getting access to unsecured firearms.
That means the solutions cannot be one-size-fits-all either.
Nearly 60% of gun deaths are suicides, which means mental health, crisis intervention, safe storage, and temporary separation from lethal means all need to be part of the conversation.
Erik believes we should treat gun violence as both a public safety issue and a public health issue.
That means looking honestly at what is happening, what is working, and what can reduce deaths without punishing responsible gun owners.
Support Background Checks
Erik supports background checks to help keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them.
That includes people with violent criminal histories, people who have been convicted of domestic violence, and people legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
Background checks should not stop responsible, law-abiding citizens from owning guns.
They should help close gaps that allow dangerous people to get them too easily.
Support Waiting Periods
A waiting period between purchasing and receiving a firearm can create a cooling-off window during moments of crisis.
That matters especially when it comes to suicide and impulsive violence.
Waiting periods do not prevent responsible people from owning firearms. They simply add time between a decision and access to a lethal weapon.
Erik believes that kind of practical safeguard is worth considering when it can save lives while respecting constitutional rights.
Support Red Flag Laws With Due Process
Red flag laws, also called extreme risk protection orders, allow temporary action when someone shows clear signs that they may be an imminent danger to themselves or others.
Erik believes these laws must include strong due process protections.
That means evidence, judicial review, clear standards, temporary orders, and a fair process for restoring rights when the danger has passed.
Used carefully, red flag laws can help families and law enforcement respond before a crisis becomes a tragedy.
Address Domestic Violence and Gun Violence
Domestic violence and gun violence are deeply connected.
When a firearm is present in a domestic violence situation, the risk of serious injury or death increases dramatically.
Erik believes domestic abuse needs to be taken far more seriously in the gun safety conversation.
People convicted of violent crimes, including domestic violence, should face consequences for their gun privileges. That is not about punishing responsible gun owners. It is about recognizing that people who have demonstrated violence toward family members or partners have broken the trust that responsible gun ownership requires.
Protecting victims and families should be a priority.
Protect Responsible Gun Owners
The Second Amendment reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Erik believes in that right. He owns firearms. He hunts. He understands what guns mean to families across Western Minnesota — for recreation, for food, for protection, and as part of a way of life that has been passed down through generations. That is not a political position for him. It is personal.
Erik’s approach is straightforward: reduce gun deaths while protecting the rights of responsible, law-abiding gun owners.
He is not interested in scare tactics from either side.
He will not support policies designed to punish hunters, sport shooters, farmers, or responsible gun owners who follow the law.
He will evaluate gun legislation by a simple standard: does it reduce harm, respect due process, and protect constitutional rights?
That is the balance Erik will bring to Congress.
Erik Wants to Hear From You
Gun rights and gun safety matter deeply to families across Western Minnesota.
Erik wants to hear your perspective — as a hunter, gun owner, parent, teacher, veteran, law enforcement officer, domestic violence advocate, healthcare worker, or community member.