The tragic and preventable death of Alex Pretti has profoundly impacted the ongoing discourse surrounding the Second Amendment.

Ironically, many progressive voices now championing Pretti as an embodiment of American ideals might have previously criticized his lawful gun ownership, deeming it a potential threat and labeling him as a criminal.

These critics, who often advocate for restrictions on firearms like the one Pretti possessed, including its optic, threaded barrel, and detachable magazines, find themselves in an awkward silence. In states like California, under Democratic leadership, such weapons are banned from protests. Yet, these voices remain notably quiet on these inconsistencies.

This contrasts sharply with their vocal stance during the events involving Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three people, killing two, on August 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

It’s crucial to recall that Rittenhouse, then 17, did not actively seek confrontation. He was not obstructing traffic or allegedly interfering with a federal law enforcement action.

Rittenhouse was standing on private property, protecting the business of a friend during destructive Black Lives Matter protests. He was wearing his weapon in open view when he was attacked by a convicted pedophile and separately by a convicted domestic abuser, whom he shot and killed in self defense.

But Congressman Hakeem Jeffries called Rittenhouse an ‘armed vigilante’ and Representative Ayanna Pressley said he was a ‘domestic terrorist.’

Video footage of the January 24 incident shows agents wrestling Pretti to the ground and confiscating his firearm before he was shot

In 2020, Kyle Rittenhouse shot three men, killing two, in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Have they said the same about Pretti?

Of course they haven’t. That wouldn’t serve their narrative, which is to demonize Department of Homeland Security agents and the Trump administration. It does, though, expose them as hypocrites.

But it’s also not only the left that seems to be completely discombobulated by the Minneapolis shooting. 

The Trump administration’s messaging on this has been awful.

Various officials, from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to FBI Director Kash Patel and a top Los Angeles federal prosecutor have suggested that Pretti’s gun ownership alone could serve as a justification for the use of lethal force against him.

However, contrary to remarks from these officials, American citizens are absolutely within their rights to carry a firearm to a protest in Minnesota.

I have organized and attended numerous protests while armed. I have even stood directly in front of police officers with a Glock 19 open-carried on my hip.

At one rally, I was told by an officer to return to the sidewalk, after I had inadvertently stepped off a curb onto a roadway, or I’d be arrested. I complied. I wasn’t arrested or shot because peaceful protest while armed is a right.

Carrying a spare magazine isn’t indicative of any ill intent either. I always carry a spare magazine, along with first aid materials. And it’s irrelevant to call Pretti’s concealed carry license into question, as some administration officials have, especially as failure to carry the laminated permit is a petty misdemeanor in Minnesota payable by a $25 fine – and only if not later produced.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt has stood out as the most level-headed administration spokesperson to discuss this case. Her remarks from Monday’s news conference, specifically focusing on Pretti’s alleged obstruction of ICE enforcement operations, should be the blueprint for Trump officials.

I do not forfeit my support for the Second Amendment by asking the following three basic questions about Pretti’s shooting: Did law enforcement disarm Pretti before the shooting? Were agents aware that he was disarmed? What exactly triggered the use of lethal force?

Transparency and public discussion are essential to a free republic. Unfortunately, hyper-tribalism in America, fueled by one-sided news coverage, has made nuanced debate of this event nearly impossible. But I will attempt it.

Now, new video has emerged reportedly showing Pretti spitting at an ICE officer before kicking out the tail light of DHS vehicle 

In the new footage, Pretti appears to have his gun on his person

Dana Loesch is a former NRA spokesperson and host of The Dana Show

First, we must acknowledge why there are ICE operations in Minneapolis. Since 2021, the state of Minnesota has largely refused ICE requests to turn over illegal immigrants in taken into custody police custody. Governor Tim Walz slyly insisted otherwise, claiming that state jails honor such requests, but he omitted that his city and county jails do not.

Minnesota, in fact, is less cooperative than progressive California when it comes to working with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

Let’s also recognize who ICE is targeting. Last week on my radio program I pored over the long list of detainees that ICE has apprehended just in the past few weeks. Multiple aliens were convicted of murder, assault, brutal rape and child predation. Many had more than three convictions. Many of these fugitives are wanted in their home countries as well as the US.

These are the illegal immigrants that Democrats like Walz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are inciting their constituents to protect. Their rhetoric castigating ICE agents as ‘Nazis’ and ‘thugs’ inspires organized, well-funded agitators to act in reckless and dangerous ways.

Finally, we must concede that while Pretti’s death was a tragedy, he is not absolved of responsibility either.

ICE agents have been doxxed, attacked, threatened and obstructed at every turn. Last weekend an agent had the tip of his finger bitten off by a rioter. They must be extra vigilant. And Pretti did everything that gun owners are taught not to do in firearms training.

He was grievously unwise to carry his firearm while engaged in the felonious impeding of federal law enforcement efforts. Alone this is dangerous, to do so while carrying a firearm is even more so.

Pretti also had a history of seeking confrontations with ICE. It was reported that a week before his shooting he suffered a broken rib in a confrontation with federal agents as he interfered with their operations.

Now video has emerged reportedly showing Pretti, days before the fatal shooting, screaming obscenities and spitting at an ICE officer before kicking out the taillight of DHS vehicle. After agents tackle Pretti to the ground, a handgun can be seen sticking out of his waistband. 

In conclusion, all these things can be true: The Second Amendment is a fundamental right, but it isn’t an exemption from making stupid decisions. And the federal government has a duty to enforce immigration laws, but not at expense of our rights.

I think we can all agree on that.