Trump ADA gets grief from GOA, NRA

In the aftermath of the controversial shooting of nurse Alex Pretti in Minnesota, Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, released one of the more tone-deaf statements I recall hearing.

“If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you. Don’t do it!”

Ah, no – unless you are actively trying to use said weapon, simply having it with you is not a good reason to get executed. Have it in your hand? You’re on mighty thin ice (so to speak) and can expect a really bad day. Simply having one on your person? Some have condemned Petti for having a gun – sorry guys, if you truly believe in the 1st and 2nd Amendments, he had that right and objectively this is another bad shoot. But that is a topic for a different day.

The National Rifle Association (NRA), which normally feels all kinds of carry is natural law, has been silent on this one – I suspect politically they don’t want to make it appear they are challenging the administration when supposedly it’s on the NRA’s side. The closest they have come is issuing a statement on the ADA above.

The NRA responded: “This sentiment from the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California is dangerous and wrong. Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.”

They covered their bases – they also called out Tim Walz and the leftist language which is encouraging confrontation with ICE.

The organization has also spoken out against “radical progressive politicians like Tim Walz,” accusing them of inciting “violence against law enforcement officers who are simply trying to do their jobs.”

Gun Owners of America, a group widely considered as more rightist than the NRA, was stronger in their condemnation of Essayli:

“Furthermore, we condemn the untoward comments of U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. Federal agents are not ‘highly likely’ to be ‘legally justified’ in ‘shooting’ concealed carry licensees who approach while lawfully carrying a firearm. The Second Amendment protects Americans’ right to bear arms while protesting—a right the federal government must not infringe upon.”

GOA also called on “the Left” to “stop antagonizing immigration and border patrol agents who are taking criminals off the streets and play a crucial role in protecting communities and upholding the rule of law.”

Prietti must have seemed a real dangerous fella – says they shot him 9 times. While he was laying on the ground surrounded by agents.

Pretti’s family said he had a lawful permit to carry a concealed handgun in Minnesota, which ICE agents were seen on video removing from his person when tackling Pretti to the ground. They then shot Pretti nine times “in self-defense,” according to the Department of Homeland Security.  Mediaite

Personally I think after investigation the agents may keep their jobs, but the Pretti family may become extremely wealthy.

Essayli is not alone, by the way. Per Customs and Border Patrol Gregory Bovino:

“We respect that Second Amendment right, but those rights don’t count when you riot and assault, delay, obstruct, and impede law enforcement officers — and most especially when you mean to do that beforehand,” he said.

Never knew trying to help a woman getting tear gassed was a capital crime before?

“You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It’s that simple. You don’t have that right to break the law and incite violence,” he said.

That one is Kash Patel, who found time off from his busy country music circuit to comment.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also erroneously stated that you can’t bring a gun to a protest. Salon

May be worth noting: Pretti was an intensive care VA nurse.

And in closing: say we change Pretti’s last name? How about if he was named Rittenhouse?

Category: Crime, Illegal Immigrants, Politics