Groups typically aligned with Trump call for investigation as NRA wades into the national dialogue

You know you’ve lost the plot when the NRA isn’t happy with your treatment of the Second Amendment.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has joined other gun lobbying and advocacy groups that are typically aligned with Donald Trump in calling for the Republican president’s administration to conduct a “full investigation” into the killing of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old nurse who was shot dead by federal immigration officials in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Pretti was reportedly legally permitted to carry a gun and is a citizen of the US, where it is a constitutional right to bear arms. Widely circulated video of his shooting death does not depict him ever holding a gun. It does show an officer reaching to Pretti’s lower back and stepping away with what appeared to be a pistol – and Pretti being subsequently shot to death.

The NRA waded into the national dialogue over Pretti’s killing after Bill Essayli – who was appointed by Trump to temporarily serve as a US attorney in California in 2025 – posted on social media: “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.”

In response, the NRA posted: “This sentiment … is dangerous and wrong. Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.”

  • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    4·
    5 days ago

    Tbf, gun rights supporters usually support the right of ALL to carry regardless of race, they supported Philando Castille too for an example.

    Thing is gun guys are usually kinda single issue voters (not that they otherwise agree with D on everything else necessarily, but that guns are their primary consideration when voting), and the Democrat position on guns has pushed them to the right who can then convert them on other issues too and make things worse. It would at least be beneficial harm reduction for the Dems to embrace the 2a and then try and convert those people on the other issues the way the Reps have been doing for years but it’ll be an uphill battle with their track record.

    Basically, they support* ICE’s actions here largely because they were pushed to the right on guns long ago and then the right used that foothold to radicalize them in a racist manner (also applies to other things). And it would be beneficial to have been combating that with supporting the rights too and radicalizing them against racism since about thirty fucking years ago.

    *not as much as one may think but that’s another convo, and that support doesn’t override people’s right to arm themselves as we see by the bit of backlash they’re starting to get on this one.

    • rainwall@piefed.socialEnglish
      2·
      5 days ago

      While I think youre overall right, the NRA specically did not support Philando Castille. They made no comment about his murder for a month, until they recieved extensive critisism from everyone, then released the following without even naming him:

      As the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights organization, the NRA proudly supports the right of law-abiding Americans to carry firearms for defense of themselves and others regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation.

      The reports from Minnesota are troubling and must be thoroughly investigated. In the meantime, it is important for the NRA not to comment while the investigation is ongoing.

      Rest assured, the NRA will have more to say once all the facts are known.

      They have never followed up or made any other comment about Castillie, even after the officer that murdered him was aquitted a year later.

      • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        3·
        5 days ago

        GOA, FPC, and SRA did iirc, and it was the general sentiment amongst the people at the time (I’ve been involved with 2a supporters a long time, and am one to be truthful, so I remember it). The NRA is a joke, they exist(ed, I think he’s out now) solely to line Wayne LaPierre’s pockets, they’ve long been irrelevant since well before that incident happened anyway. FPC, GOA, and to a lesser extent SRA are usually more in line with the general rabble than whatever the fuck the NRA has become, but more important is the perception of the people themselves even if it isn’t echoed by the organizations that should, that failing is on the orgs.

        You’re not wrong though, it’s just the NRA sucks and doesn’t speak for the people they claim to.