The ICE killing of Alex Pretti has sparked a massive backlash nationwide, not just from Democrats and Trump critics but also from several gun-rights organizations unhappy with how the Trump administration has handled its response. These groups have heavily criticized officials for suggesting that Pretti should not have been carrying a firearm at the protest and for comments that appear to contradict traditional Second Amendment principles.
Gun rights advocates pushed back specifically against comments from FBI Director Kash Patel, who said on Fox News that someone “cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want,” a position they said is incorrect under Minnesota law and undermines constitutional rights.
The National Rifle Association and other groups also condemned statements from a federal prosecutor suggesting approaching law enforcement with a firearm could justify a deadly response, calling the claim “dangerous and wrong” and urging that authorities wait for a full investigation before making assertions about gun rights and lawful carry.
This killing of Alex Pretti reveals a dark truth about the administration’s view of gun rights: they are not universal. They are reserved for the “right” kind of people. If you are a MAGA supporter, your gun is a symbol of freedom. If you are a protester in Minneapolis, your gun…
— Andrew Weinstein (@Weinsteinlaw) January 25, 2026
He is not alone; Kristi Noem also expressed a similar opinion. On Saturday, the DHS Secretary said that she didn’t “know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign.”
Then on Monday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, said the same thing. She said that “any gun owner knows” that carrying the weapon raises “the assumption of risk and the risk of force being used against you,” when having an encounter with a law enforcement officer.
Gun-rights groups were also outraged by Bill Essayli. The acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.”
No President and no administration is above our country’s Constitution, and no one in this country is without rights.
Support your community by staying peaceful and prepared. Report federal agent misconduct to: https://t.co/uHbU8fjxdA
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) January 25, 2026
The National Rifle Association, which has previously backed Donald Trump for a long time, criticized Essayli’s remarks. They said that his statement was “dangerous and wrong.” The organization also called for a full investigation rather than “making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.”
Similarly, Director of Federal Affairs for Gun Owners of America Aidan Johnston also called Essayli’s remarks “absolutely unacceptable.” On Monday, Johnston said, “Federal prosecutors should know better than to comment on a situation when he didn’t know all the facts, to make a judgment in a case like this, and then also, just to make a blanket statement, threatening gun owners in that way.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been a longtime Trump critic, slammed the administration on X. Referring to Noem’s remarks, Newsom wrote, “The Trump administration does not believe in the 2nd Amendment. Good to know.”
