NRA has entered the chat, condemning ICE’s ‘dangerous and wrong’ narrative following the deadly shooting in Minnesota

Following the murder of Minnesota ICU nurse Alex Pretti at the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, the National Rifle Association (NRA) advocates full transparency from the Trump administration, saying there is a “dangerous and wrong” narrative taking place against gun owners, Fox 9 reports.

The Department of Homeland Security posted an image of a 9mm semi-automatic handgun on X that they claim was found on Pretti, creating the impression that the victim was trying to harm officers. First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli reposted the image, saying, “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, chances are they are legally justified in shooting you.”

Then the NRA stepped in, calling his comments “dangerous and wrong.” “Responsible public voices should wait for a full investigation, and not make generalizations and demonize law-abiding citizens,” the organization responded.

The 37-year-old nurse was killed after allegedly being shot repeatedly as she was brought face-first into the cold Minneapolis ground during a protest. While Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino defended the officer’s use of deadly force — and even blamed Pretti for carrying the weapon — Minneapolis police confirmed he had a permit to carry the weapon.

Video footage of the incident proves otherwise: it appeared the victim was disarmed before being taken down.

While the national gun rights organization first laid the blame on Governor Tim Walz, calling him a “radical progressive politician” who “incited violence against law enforcement officers simply trying to do their jobs,” gun rights advocates and experts argued are surprised to see how organizations and federal officials use the narrative against the victim.

“They have stood up in court and tried to resist the state laws that regulate firearms — access, use, carry — so it’s quite shocking to me to see that they are now using an example of a lawful gun owner as a justification for violence,” said Megan Walsh, Second Amendment expert and professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, according to CNN.

Minnesota has allowed open and concealed carry of a licensed pistol for years if an applicant meets certain criteria. State rules also do not prohibit individuals from possessing firearms at protests or even at the Capitol in Minnesota.

However, that has not stopped the Trump administration from adhering to the position that Pretti is wrong. “You can’t bring a firearm with multiple magazines to any protest. It’s as simple as that,” FBI Director Kash Patel said.

“No one who wants to be peaceful shows up to a protest with a firearm loaded with two full magazines.”

Walsh said there is “no gray in this situation,” and defended the victim, saying he felt his rights were being violated. “He was lawfully carrying a firearm, and that is not a license to kill someone,” the law professor said.

“We have a Constitution that provides a Second Amendment individual right, and it is unlawful to kill a man for exercising his constitutional rights.”

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