Gun Rights Groups Blast Trump Officials for Anti-Second Amendment Rhetoric

A growing rift has emerged between the Trump administration and key gun rights groups after top officials made sweeping statements condemning armed protesters in the aftermath of a deadly shooting in Minneapolis.

On Saturday, an anti-ICE protester named Alex Pretti was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents. Pretti, who was lawfully carrying a firearm and licensed to do so, was described by Homeland Security as resisting arrest violently before being shot approximately ten times. However, it wasn’t just the shooting that sparked backlash it was the response from the federal government.

Statements from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel suggested that armed protesters are inherently lawbreakers, equating the presence of a firearm with incitement to violence. Patel stated bluntly: “You don’t have that right to break the law and incite violence.”

Gun rights groups across the country are livid. “There is no prohibition on a permit holder carrying a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines at a protest or rally in Minnesota,” the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus said, pushing back hard on Patel’s interpretation of state law.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) and Gun Owners of America (GOA) also weighed in with strong rebukes, calling the rhetoric not just legally flawed but dangerous.

Key concerns from gun rights advocates include:

• Federal officials made false legal claims about carrying firearms at protests in Minnesota.

• The administration appears to be shifting toward a “guilty until shot” narrative for law-abiding gun owners.

• Statements from U.S. Attorneys and senior officials could embolden unjustified use of force against armed citizens.

The NRA called remarks from U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli “dangerous and wrong,” accusing him of demonizing lawful gun owners and undermining the Constitution. GOA warned that such language “could justify deadly force against concealed carriers simply exercising their rights.”

This is a rare public clash between pro-Second Amendment groups and a Republican administration. While Trump himself has largely remained in favor of gun rights and called for calm after the shooting, his officials’ rhetoric is causing serious alarm in conservative circles.

Notably, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was one of the few praised by GOA after stating on NBC, “There’s nothing wrong with anybody lawfully carrying firearms.” He added that the facts of this particular case still need to be investigated.

Meanwhile, the Left continues to exploit the chaos. Minnesota Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, have used the incident to renew their opposition to federal immigration enforcement, demanding ICE and Border Patrol be removed from their cities. Pretti’s death has become a rallying cry for radical activists despite his armed status and apparent refusal to comply with law enforcement commands.

President Trump responded by doubling down on the need to end sanctuary cities, calling them “the root cause of all these problems.” He also asked, “Why weren’t [local police] allowed to protect ICE Officers?” making clear where the real blame lies: weak Democrat leadership and reckless anti-police rhetoric.

But even as Trump maintains strong support from conservatives, the administration must tread carefully. Gun rights are non-negotiable for many Americans, and any hint of siding with the anti-gun narrative especially in an election year risks alienating a critical base.

The Second Amendment isn’t situational. It’s not suspended at protests. And it certainly shouldn’t be vilified by the very government that swore to protect it.

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