Gun Rights Groups Break With Trump After DHS Defends Minneapolis Shooting of Alex Pretti
Gun rights organizations that typically support conservative law enforcement and Republican policies are sharply diverging from the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security after the fatal Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti.
On January 24, federal immigration agents shot and killed Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and licensed gun owner, during a DHS/Customs and Border Protection operation. Early federal accounts claimed Pretti was armed and threatening.
That narrative has since fractured parts of the pro-gun community. The National Rifle Association publicly rejected comments from a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney suggesting armed individuals approaching law enforcement could expect to be shot, calling such phrasing “dangerous and wrong.”
Similarly, Gun Owners of America issued statements condemning the same remarks and stressing that the Second Amendment protects Americans’ right to bear arms while protesting and that lawful firearm possession should not be construed as a threat.
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Newly circulated video footage and witness reports reportedly show Pretti holding a phone—not brandishing a weapon—when he was killed, directly contradicting the administration’s descriptions.
This public rebuke by influential gun rights groups marks an unusual break with an administration that often touts Second Amendment support, intensifying debate over federal use of force and lawful gun rights. Their calls for a full, transparent investigation add pressure to already mounting criticism of DHS tactics in Minneapolis.
With congressional inquiries and local protests continuing, questions about law enforcement accountability and constitutional rights are likely to dominate the coming days. A full investigative review and federal response are expected next.
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