Trump loyalists are upset the administration has blamed Pretti’s shooting on him exercising his right to carry a gun
Gun rights groups have long been among Donald Trump’s most loyal allies. But following the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, the alliance is showing rare cracks.
In the days since the shooting, the movement has forcefully defended its stance that the second amendment is a means to keep Americans safe from government overreach and abuse and has stood fast in its fight to expand Americans’ right to carry concealed firearms in public and private spaces, even as Trump administration officials, and Trump himself, suggested otherwise.
Meanwhile, the groups have tried to balance criticizing the administration’s rhetoric, while signaling its continued support for law enforcement.
The groups’ rare rebuke of the Trump administration came after several high-ranking Trump administration officials after Pretti was killed on Saturday by US border patrol officers quickly sought to shift the blame, first by arguing the 37-year-old nurse had threatened the officers with a gun, and then arguing that even if he didn’t use the gun, carrying one was an indication he was out to harm the officers.
