NRA and Trump Clash Over Second Amendment Following Minneapolis Shooting
The National Rifle Association (NRA) issued a strong defense of the Second Amendment on Tuesday night, directly challenging recent statements made by President Donald Trump regarding the right to bear arms following the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse fatally shot by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in minneapolis. the NRA criticized Trump’s repeated assertions that Pretti “shouldn’t have been carrying a gun,” despite reports identifying him as a lawful gun owner with a valid permit. Video footage of the encounter shows Pretti was not holding a weapon when federal agents engaged with him.
“The NRA unequivocally believes that all law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be,” the organization stated in a release. This firm stance directly contradicts Trump’s comments made earlier in the day during a visit to Iowa, were he responded to a reporter’s question about characterizing Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” by saying, “I haven’t heard that, but certainly shouldn’t have been carrying a gun.” He further described the situation as “vrey unfortunate,” adding,”I don’t like that he had a gun. I don’t like that he had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff.”
Trump initially commented on pretti’s handgun while departing the White House, stating simply, “You know, you can’t have guns. You can’t walk in with guns. You just can’t.”
The public disagreement between the NRA and Trump-who have historically enjoyed a close relationship-did not go unnoticed by political opponents. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, declared, “Trump’s lost the NRA,” in response to the gun rights group’s statement. The Democratic Party amplified this sentiment on social media, posting a clip of Trump’s remarks with the caption: “GOP President: you can’t have guns.”
These statements have sparked concern among Trump’s base, many of whom are staunch supporters of the Second Amendment. The Department of Homeland Security has come under scrutiny for its focus on pretti’s firearm, even publishing a photograph of the weapon shortly after his death.
Further fueling the debate, FBI Director Kash Patel echoed remarks made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, stating, “No one who wants to be peaceful shows up at a protest with a firearm that is loaded with two full magazines. That is not a peaceful protest.” The National Association for Gun Rights swiftly countered this claim, arguing, “Carrying an extra magazine implies nothing. Claiming or else sets a dangerous precedent for Second Amendment rights and creates an easy backdoor argument for magazine bans and similar legislation.”
Noem’s response to Pretti’s death, as well as the January 7th shooting of Renee Good, another 37-year-old U.S. citizen killed by federal agents during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, has drawn widespread criticism. Noem has stated that Pretti “approached Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun” and “reacted violently” when officers attempted to disarm him, accusing him of “the definition of domestic terrorism,” mirroring statements from Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller.
However, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has contradicted this narrative, stating, “I don’t have any evidence that I’ve seen that suggests the weapon was brandished.” Video footage of the incident depicts Pretti being sprayed with a substance and subdued by federal agents.
The discrepancies between the Department of Homeland Security’s account and the circulating video footage have prompted Democrats to call for Noem’s impeachment. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged Trump to fire Noem “promptly,” threatening impeachment proceedings if he fails to do so. Even within the Republican party, Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of north Carolina have called for Noem to step down.
The unfolding situation underscores the increasingly polarized debate surrounding gun rights and law enforcement tactics, especially in the context of ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.The clash between the President and the NRA signals a potential realignment of political forces and a renewed focus on the Second Amendment in the coming months.
