Gun Rights Groups Slam Government Overreach

A Trump administration federal prosecutor sparked fierce backlash from the NRA and Gun Owners of America after defending the fatal shooting of a lawfully armed ICU nurse by federal immigration officers, revealing a disturbing clash between constitutional carry rights and aggressive federal enforcement tactics.

Story Snapshot

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37-year-old VA nurse with valid concealed carry permit, shot dead by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026
Bystander videos show Pretti holding a phone with no visible weapon when killed during ICE enforcement operation
Los Angeles federal prosecutor Bill Essayli posted officers “likely justified” in shooting armed citizens, triggering NRA condemnation as “dangerous and wrong”
White House backtracked on initial claims about the incident amid intense political fallout threatening Trump administration credibility

Federal Prosecutor’s Inflammatory Defense Sparks Constitutional Outrage

Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for California’s Central District and interim top prosecutor appointed by AG Pam Bondi in April 2025, ignited a firestorm on X by defending federal officers who shot Pretti. His initial post declared officers “likely justified” in shooting anyone approaching with a firearm during enforcement operations. This premature justification came before investigations began and while bystander videos contradicted any visible weapon threat. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed Pretti held a valid concealed carry permit, establishing him as a law-abiding gun owner exercising his Second Amendment rights.

Second Amendment Groups Unite Against Government Overreach

The NRA and Gun Owners of America issued sharp rebukes of Essayli’s position, calling it a dangerous precedent that demonizes lawful gun ownership. Gun rights advocates emphasized constitutional protections under the Second, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments prevent officers from shooting citizens merely for possessing firearms without imminent threat. A community note on Essayli’s X post highlighted these constitutional limits, stating officers cannot justify deadly force based solely on firearm possession. This represents exactly the kind of government overreach conservatives have warned about—federal agents treating constitutional rights as criminal threats during enforcement operations.

Troubling Context Reveals Pattern of Federal Force

Pretti’s killing occurred just seventeen days after federal ICE officers fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, sparking widespread protests. The rapid succession of deadly shootings by federal immigration enforcement in the same city during protest conditions raises serious questions about use-of-force training and threat assessment protocols. Federal agents operate with broad enforcement powers that can supersede local police authority, creating scenarios where constitutional rights collide with aggressive federal tactics. The volatile protest environment following Good’s death set a backdrop where federal officers appeared primed to perceive threats even from lawfully armed citizens.

Political Fallout Exposes Administration Vulnerability

California Governor Gavin Newsom seized on the controversy, labeling Essayli a “Trump’s DOJ stooge” and weaponizing the NRA’s opposition for political attacks. The White House reportedly backtracked on initial claims about Pretti after intense backlash, with the departure of official Bovino signaling internal recognition of political damage. Essayli later clarified his statement, attempting to distinguish between “agitators approaching while refusing to disarm” and lawful concealed carriers, but the damage to Second Amendment advocates’ trust was done. This incident hands ammunition to critics claiming Trump’s immigration enforcement threatens constitutional rights, complicating the administration’s law-and-order messaging when federal agents kill permitted gun owners.

NEW: DHS Investigating Whether Alex Pretti's Gun Accidentally Discharged: Report https://t.co/r98V20SHjO #gatewaypundit via @gatewaypundit

— DK Mac (@DKMac14) January 26, 2026

The ongoing investigation faces pressure from gun rights organizations demanding accountability and clarity on what justified deadly force against a man whose permit confirmed his legal status. Video evidence showing Pretti holding a phone rather than brandishing a weapon contradicts any claim of imminent threat. For Second Amendment supporters who backed Trump’s tough enforcement policies, this case exposes the danger when federal power expands without proper restraints on constitutional liberties. The outcome will set precedent for whether lawful gun owners can safely exercise carry rights during public demonstrations without federal agents treating them as shoot-on-sight threats. No charges have been announced against the officers involved as protests continue in Minneapolis and scrutiny intensifies nationwide.