On January 24, a tragic incident unfolded on the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota, when Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent.
The Department of Homeland Security quickly responded, claiming that the shooting occurred in an act of self-defense after Pretti allegedly brandished a handgun.
However, video footage and eyewitness accounts suggest that Pretti was not holding a gun, but instead, a mobile phone, which contradicts the official narrative.
Trump's Comments Spark Backlash
In an interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump addressed the situation, stating that he was not in favor of Pretti "carrying a gun."
Trump went further, emphasizing that it was "unusual" for Pretti to be carrying a "fully loaded" gun alongside "two magazines" and that the nurse "certainly shouldn't have been carrying a gun."
These remarks quickly generated controversy, as Pretti was a licensed concealed weapons holder, and many gun rights advocates voiced their disagreement with the president’s stance.
NRA and Gun Rights Groups Respond
In defense of Pretti's actions, the National Rifle Association (NRA) issued a statement on January 28, asserting that "all law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be."
The statement reinforced the organization’s commitment to the Second Amendment and clarified their stance on the matter.
Gun Owners of America, another prominent gun rights lobbying group, also voiced its support for the right to carry firearms.
Spokesperson Luis Valdes told Reuters: "You absolutely can walk around with a gun, and you absolutely can peacefully protest while armed."
Valdes added that this was a deeply ingrained part of American history, referencing events as far back as the Boston Tea Party.
Minneapolis Police Chief also echoed these sentiments. Speaking on Face the Nation, he affirmed that the Second Amendment guarantees the right to possess a firearm.
He pointed out that Pretti did not violate any restrictions regarding gun ownership in Minnesota, stating: "He is not a convicted felon and he is someone that did have a permit for the handgun to carry it."
Homeland Security and FBI Defend the Shooting
Despite the vocal support for Pretti's rights to carry a weapon, some officials sided with the federal immigration agent who shot him. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel both backed the notion that Pretti should not have been carrying a gun.
During a press conference, Noem remarked: "I don't know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign."
Patel, speaking on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures, also echoed her position, stating: "You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines, to any sort of protest that you want. It’s that simple."
White House Weighs In: Risk and Responsibility of Carrying Firearms
Following the shooting, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked to comment on the incident.
She pointed out that anyone carrying a weapon is "raising the assumption of risk and the risk of force being used against you."
Leavitt added, "That’s unfortunately what took place on Saturday," referencing the fatal outcome of the encounter.