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
Well, one “shouldn’t” take a weapon to a protest and/or unexpectedly intervene with law enforcement in a situatiion where people have been violent toward them, anyway. Makes the likelihood of bad stuff happening go up greatly.
Yes. Carrying a weapon into a daily riot may be legal and constitutionally protected, but you’ll never convince me that it’s a good idea. What you’re actually doing is escalating from “peaceful protest” to “mostly peaceful protest” to “riot” to “armed insurrection”.
Add in that he was violently resisting arrest… once the officers put hands on him, he should have peacefully complied, and none of this would have happened.
As Ed said yesterday, ” awful but lawful”… and yes, this is EXACTLY what the leftists financing these riots want.. martyrs for their cause.. and no matter how nice a guy Pretti was, has was also quite obviously a useful idiot..
The martyrs and riots were mentioned this morning on my talk radio station ,the Brian Kilme show, and the talk radio show before Brians show mentioned the shooting but didn’t mention the whole story as of yet.
Can you point out where he was violently resisting arrest?
As far as I can see, he didn’t draw his weapon, didn’t take a swing at the ICE people, and was already pepper-sprayed and tackled by multiple people when he was shot.
Being thrown to the ground while just getting sprayed in the face is a chaotic situation, but he sure as hell didn’t look violent.
He didn’t have to “take a swing” at an ICE agent. He physically obstructed federal agents. He physically resisted arrest. And it was all avoidable.
Again, where was he being violent?
The videos I’ve watched clearly show him shuffling with the officers, not complying with their lawful orders.. that along with his intentionally breaking the law by leaving his documents required for legal carry at home, as well as being apart of the signal group actively working to obstruct ICE operations clearly speaks to premeditation… as with most ” heros” of the left he was very actively engaged in criminal activity.
If he wanted suicide-by-cop, he succeeded.
He ‘intentionally broke a law’ that is, from what I’ve seen, a petty misdemeanor with a fine of up to $25 — less than jaywalking. Are we shooting people now for jaywalking in the general direction of police?
And being a part of a Signal group is also not a crime. One can legally observe ICE, and yes, even yell at them and blow whistles and whatnot. One can’t obstruct operations, but if that’s what you took from the video, I think you should check it out again.
He went to help a woman up -a woman who was shoved, hard and unnecessarily- by ICE, and that led to the pepper spray, and then all hell broke loose, presumably because he couldn’t see. But he never reached for his weapon, and never violently attacked anyone.
It’s patently obvious you have a misconception of resisting arrest. I’ll make one attempt to spell it out for you. Refusing to put your hands behind your back when being physically taken into custody counts as one grade of resisting arrest. That would be “resisting without violence”. Should he attempt to strike or otherwise cause injury to the LEO’s in any way that is called resisting with violence, a higher degree of charge. I hope that clears up any misconception for you. If it does not it is because you are willfully deciding to either remain ignorant or unwilling to acknowledge anything that does not fit your particular bias. Just like a toddler sticking their fingers in their ears and yelling.
OK
There is a video at hotair.com that shows where your innocent little darling assaulted one of the officers, causing the melee during which he was shot.
https://hotair.com/generalissimo/2026/01/26/finding-out-what-happens-when-you-bring-a-gun-to-an-ice-fight-n3811209
I’ve watched the video. Show me exactly where he’s assaulting the officer.
Did he put himself between the officer and the woman he shoved? Yeah. And that wasn’t a smart move. But if you’re considering that to be ‘assault’, then my god, I just don’t even know what to say. What’s next, a snowflake falls on an officer, and BLAM, BLAM, BLAM, we shoot the sky for assault?
My mistake. I thought he was the guy (ICE agent?) who shoved someone. So, not assault but certainly obstructing and interfering
with Federal officers and probably resisting arrest.
“ wasn’t a smart move.”
Certainly an understatement. That’s what happens, though, when 37 yr. old children play with guns and pretend to be freedom fighters.
Adults know that “shit happens” when you carry a gun and/or get involved in physical altercations, which is why good ones teach their children.
Ooh, and don’t forget that he is tentionally left his ID, and carry permit at home, thereby rendering them null and void..
Open carrying at a protest is a quintessential exercise of the second amendment you fucking anonymous bootlicker.
You and the braindead cult fuckwits that upvoted you can rot in hell.
Carrying a weapon to a scene of potential violence is stupid, at best. Initiating violence while carrying that weapon is beyond stupid.
Unless, of course, you intend to use that weapon.
Nobody questioned that. We said it was a stupid move. Big difference. Yuge.
You may go now.
Try doing it in California, dipshit.
You’ll be headed there first, shit stick. We know you aren’t a fucking medic — you’re a brick tossing, chain swinging violent protester yourself.
Tread lightly.
I’ll save you a seat, Lars.
Weird, you were saying the complete opposite during the Rittenhouse saga. I wonder what’s (D)ifferent this time. The left is a cult with projection issues
I know I’m way late to the party, but I’m gonna leave this right here for you., Commie-Douche-Queef-Bar
Been scrolling my phone since taking my dog outside at 2 am. Powerline blog has a 28 second video of Prettie’s close encounter with an ICE agent – The handgun with the loaded 21 round magazine is in Pretti’s right hand pointed down at the ground – not in a holster as the ICE agent appears to be pushing him back with both hands.
A strong case of FAFO.
That makes me feel better! Hopefully, that video needs to be shared a LOT
Mom and dad warned him.
… “Don’t take your guns to town, son
Leave your guns at home, Bill
Don’t take your guns to town”
Was 13 when Cashes song was re leased, remember it well
The platoons weapon cleaning mix.
I was raised on the classics.
Is it me, or does this guy look like a typical liberal douche/cuck/soy boi/wannabe tough guy/know-it-all-prick? He’s the kind of guy I’d meet at a party that would discount all of my ACTUAL experiences about life in the military and finance & accounting because he read articles in The HuffPo and The Economist. He probably ran out got a concealed carry permit and that gun thinking he’s going to be Mr. Badass. He probably figured he draw his weapon and the CBP Agents would be all intimidated because he dreamed this scenario where he free’s a scumbag illegal and becomes a liberal hero. In a blink of an eye it all want south and wound up dead.
Fortunately he had no children, so the gene pool was spared.
It is very uncertain that the family will “get wealthy” over this event, especially if it is determined to be a lawful shoot. Under the FTCA one has to show that the officers violated clearly established Federal law. If the shoot is found to be good that will almost certainly not happen.
What might be in play here is Martin v US. While the facts of Martin are radically different the underlying question of suing the US for the negligence of an FLEO appears to have been answered last summer. This is clearly an intentional tort however, Martin wasn’t, it was pure negligence.
I’m certain they will prevail in the suit. Unless they (the feds) can show that single shot came from Pretti I have no doubt a jury will find for the plaintiffs and award damages and likely punitive as well. The reaction of the agents can be understood due to having found one weapon on him and not knowing there really wasn’t a second when that shot happened. This may well be another unintended discharge of a Sig 320 if that is in fact what Pretti was carrying that caused the reaction.
Maybe, but not relevant. It isn’t that easy. It could ten years before they even get to go to court on the shooting itself. That is assuming they file tomorrow.
Determining if they even have standing under FTCA is the higher bar to meet.
C’mon man, Ben Crump can get them millions. Oh, wait, Mr. Pretty has the wrong skin tone.
Beat me to it!
I’m sure the GoFundMe will net five figures or so.
That is a good point. It will probably get a lot more than five.
I went to a civilian training class almost 20 years ago now. They had a seminar on CCW as part of the training. I thought they made some really good points. One of the major ones was if you are going to carry it is incumbent upon you to ensure you do not knowingly place yourself in a position where the possession of a weapon either causes an issue or exacerbates one. An example given was while out in public, driving or otherwise, your middle finger does not exist to if you intend to “wave it” at another person you are not making a potentially hostile situation into one.
Going along with that, the best way to avoid a conflict and or gun fight is to not go where that situation may happen. Placing yourself into that situation, knowing things are not peaceful is risky at best and negligent as well.
Yes, carrying a weapon is legal and is an exercise of your rights. Taking one to a riot / protest (lets be honest here those haven’t been peaceful in MN for a while now) when you have no mandatory reason or need to be there is foolhardy, and also IMO stupid.
Neither Good nor Pretti had to be there. Both placed themselves not only in the vicinity but in extremely close proximity to ICE conducting a lawful arrest operation. If you do not get into the “scrum” with them you don’t get pepper sprayed or arrested. Protest but do not interfere or attempt to “unarrest” another person who is being taken into custody.
That is far too much common sense and basic gun owner responsibility for the average liberal mind to comprehend.
Both these individuals went where they were killed for the sole purpose of confronting ICE officers to interfere in the performance of their jobs. Their expressed goal was to prevent the officers from detaining illegal aliens, period. The Progs now admit they don’t want any illegal alien deported, no matter what crimes they have committed and irrespective of federal immigration law.
Because they hate us and this nation.
Continuing here due to length.
It is still premature but it appears that this shooting was a tragedy. Yeah they removed A gun form Pretti. Then a shot was fired. A breakdown of the video suggests (unconfirmed to date) that it was a Sig 320 that Pretti was carrying and that while the one agent was walking away it may have unintentionally discharged. That being the single shot heard in the video. Just because a suspect has one gun does not mean that there isn’t another on his person. Given that potential the agents in the process are going to react with deadly force to a shot they did not expect.
Also anyone that has been in close proximity to a discharge sans ear protection knows it is almost impossible to know where it came from.
Tim “No Balls” Walz responds by calling out the NG:
https://twitchy.com/warren-squire/2026/01/26/in-2020-tim-walz-referred-to-mn-national-guard-19-year-old-cooks-didnt-call-ng-while-city-burned-n2424351
The city won’t burn this time because of Ms goods skin color.
Well, Waltz believes they’re all cooks, so it almost makes sense for them to be distributing donuts.
Imagine allowing them access to field expedient kitchens and preparing hot meals.
The city would run the risk of catching on fire for sure.
Those “peaceful protesters” need hot coffee and doughnuts in these subzero temps.
Well, if anyone would know about untrained National Guard troops it would be him, who spent 24 years in that organization.
And then he cowarded out when he discovered his unit was going to deploy to a combat zone.
It was mentioned that pretti’s parents asked him not to go to the demostration after he was notified where the demostration was going to be on his ICE location gadget
Thanks for the tip Anonymous, I couldn’t think of the name of the gizmo he got his info from. will write it down. TAH is the only sight I get to add in my comment/ puns, I’m not on facebook,X and all the rest of the social talk stuff.
Damn! That looks like a NASA civil servant badge!!!
Sorry, had to delete image and redact name. And yeah, I fiddled with the agency name.
He worked for the VA Hospital.
pretti thought is was a pretti good idea but a pretti bad idea to go armed and not a pretti Good idea to die like Good in the car.
They would both be sitting pretti and in good shape if only
they had used common sense.
Ya know Beans, the 2 of us could make a bud Abbot, Lou Costello team..
Just FYI, there has been (several) SCOTUS rulings concerning “Rights”, which involves incorporating a “time, place, and manner” for whether those rights are legitimate. You cannot claim your rights were violated if you do not abide by the standard set. You also cannot interfere with lawful enforcement of established law, regardless of your personal viewpoint. Finally the differences between the Pretti and Rittenhouse situations are so obvious that to suggest if they were swapped it was the exact same thing is such a false equivalence that anyone suggesting such is not only wrong but attempting to equate the actions.
I’m on the side of ICE, the Trump admin, deportations, etc.
BUT, this one doesn’t look good and it damn sure hurts the “cause”!
“How about if he was named Rittenhouse?”
There is no correlation. One was armed, legally protecting property when he was attacked by rioters. He defended himself, legally, three times, and promptly turned himself into police. The other armed himself, albeit legally, traveled to and joined a riot in progress. He unlawfully engaged with law enforcement, obstructing their efforts. Were his actions worth his life? Probably not, but he apparently thought so. His actions absolutely were not in self defense, his reasons in carrying, again, completely legal, are questionable.
Were it not for the plaintiffs own testimony, Rittenhouse likely would be in prison.
Highly likely. Kyle’s very lucky to be alive.
That very clear video and good defense lawyering is what saved Rittenhouse at his trial.
What plaintiffs? The state was the plaintiff in his criminal prosecution. Two of the people he shot were in no position to testify. “They’re dead, Jim!” Although, the one surviving “victim” did to admit on cross on the witness stand that he had his pistol pointed directly at Rittehouse’s head before Rittenhouse shot off half his bicep. Which is what the video showed.
Actually, by leaving his ID and permit at home, he was NOT legally carrying.. according to MN law anyway
Most of the comments are defending the regime and claiming the victim.
It wasn’t a lawful use of force.
And his carrying was a constitutional exercise of his 2A rights.
You fucking bootlicker stooges don’t seem to have any beliefs beyond whatever your cult leader and his clerics tell you to think.
Yes, he had the constitutional right to carry. Along with that right, he had the responsibility to make a choice as to whether or not it wise to carry a concealed firearm into a riot zone. He chose poorly. Had he not decided to carry, he’d be alive and we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Victim blaming? Absolutely. This is not “her skirt was too short so she deserved it”. He chose to place himself into a confrontation with ICE, while armed. He laid the foundation for what followed. I guarantee he’d be alive right now if he had left that pistol at home.
Makes me think of that scene in Jarhead where the dude stands up to run from live fire training and gets blasted in the grape. The Staff Sergeant screams “I told you to keep your fucking head down! If you listened to me, you’d still be alive right now — stupid FUCK!”
These people should have just stayed home.
Commissar, your use of leftist buzzwords is noted. You are not— nor were you ever before a medic for these types. You ARE this type. You are a domestic terrorist.
If it was an exercise of his rights he was doing it poorly, since he was in violation of the law while he was doing it.
He may he had the right to carry a gun, but he was damn stupid and irresponsible to exercise that right by taking it into a brawl with armed police. Playing with guns is not a game or a way to prove your machismo. I have no sympathy for him, but I will nominate him for a Darwin award.
You see what the regime wants you to see and believe what they tell you believe.
That was not a lawful shoot and you fucking know it.
Bringing an open carry firearm to a protest is as fundamental an exercise of the second amendment as there is.
Nobody questioned his right to carry. His judgement in doing so was questioned. Why aren’t you there?
It may or may not have been lawful. We shall see. What we know beyond any doubt is that it was avoidable. He played a stupid game and lost.
Now do Ashli Babbit, fuckwit.
He wasn’t open carrying, you stooge for Karl Marx. His pistol and holster were concealed under his coat.
I refer the 2HG to my post earlier so he can understand the “time place manner” set by SCOTUS as to the decedent’s “fundamental exercise”.
Open in carry isn’t legal in Minnesota without a concealed carry permit, which he left at home.
” and you fucking know it.”
No, I don’t. Actually, I haven’t made up my mind yet and won’t until I see more evidence. I am inclined to think it was lawful, but I am more than willing to change my mind upon receipt of more evidence, and your ranting is not evidence. So, you got any evidence?
PS
Fuck you, too.
Thanks David.
You sound like a genuine conservative in your write up. Not just some bootlicking regime simp like the vast majority of the members of this community.
I stopped coming here as often. I lived and worked around conservatives most of my life and I respected that they had deeply held beliefs, even when I disagree with them. Often a great deal.
But Trump and MAGA proved many “conservatives” had no deeply held beliefs. They just believe whatever they are told to believe.
They are just authoritarian personalities that embrace abuses of power if it comes from other right wing authoritarian personalities.
The community in this blog are not real conservatives.
Fortunately I have spent a lot of time reading and consuming content from real conservative communities. Communities that stand on what they believe and oppose abuse of power.
This is what a real conservative community. One with genuine conservative values and beliefs sounds like when they discuss an issue like this.
https://youtu.be/qFgkET-S1tc?si=-_nKRmy2tHmkLtnL
David, you are a genuine conservative. And not a bootlicker like most of the stooges in your audience.
I’m not about to take advice on conservative values from a self avowed antifa medic and supporter. Your self-righteous card has been denied. You are a fraud. You always will be. You just can’t help it. You stand for nothing, run your mouth about everything, and essentially say nothing. You have no values yourself, yet you believe yourself to be the arbiter of all things good. I’ve got news for you, sunshine. You’re deluded. Seek help.
Hey Lars! Have someone read this to you! These are the lies your people tell. The lies you happily swallow. The lies that make you a fraud.
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/01/26/pallywood-has-been-replaced-by-minnewood-n3811232
More leftist buzzwords from the UCB dropout and utter failure of a human being.
When will your boots be on the ground to assist the rest of your domestic terrorist friends?
Is “boots on the ground” a euphemism for “oral support”?
Look at this, Lars! Your people have a new tactic! Human shields! You guys took your terrorist training to heart!
https://twitchy.com/justmindy/2026/01/26/lib-mom-gets-bullet-proof-vest-to-fight-ice-n2424379
Lecture me more about conservative values.
Poor 2HG.
I think “worked” is an embellishment.
“a real conservative community.”
Really? Does that mean I have to look like The Illustrated Man to be a “real conservative”? I’ll bet you have a lifetime subscription to Soldier of Fortune magazine, too. I guess I will just have to continue being an unreal conservative.