I was trying to have a good weekend, but then I got word about the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. I watched the video and, honestly, I don’t see how it was a good shoot, though I’m willing to acknowledge that I didn’t study the video in great detail. Cam noted then that it didn’t look like Pretti touched his gun, though, and that comports with what I saw.
First, I’m just going to say that while I’m not excusing a damn thing, it was also just a matter of time before something like this happened. You can’t keep talking about how you’re going to shoot and kill ICE agents and then be shocked when they shoot and kill someone with a gun present while folks are interfering with their operations.
However, a bad shoot is still a bad shoot, and no one should get a pass for that simply because someone else said they wanted to hurt you and your buddies. It sucks, I know, but that’s not grounds for shooting people.
And Pretti had every right to carry a firearm with him while recording ICE operations on his phone. He did. It might not have been a wise thing to do under the circumstances, and he may have had some nefarious intentions on some level, but if he didn’t touch his weapon, he doesn’t deserve to be shot.
The whole thing is a muddled mess, so let’s look at some of the takes.
The Minnesota Gun Owners’ Caucus offered this:
We are deeply concerned by this morning’s reports that a federal law enforcement operation in Minneapolis resulted in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal agents. According to local officials, the man was legally armed, a firearm was recovered at the scene, and he is believed to have been a lawful gun owner and permit to carry holder.
Many critical facts remain unknown.
We do not yet have an independent account of what initiated the encounter or what triggered the use of deadly force. Despite widespread speculation regarding intent, there has been no evidence produced indicating an intent to harm the officers. We are calling for a full and transparent investigation by both state and federal authorities.
Every peaceable Minnesotan has the right to keep and bear arms—including while attending protests, acting as observers, or exercising their First Amendment rights. These rights do not disappear when someone is lawfully armed, and they must be respected and protected at all times.
That’s a reasonable take, in my opinion. An investigation needs to happen, and it needs to be as impartial as possible. The mere presence of a firearm isn’t grounds for arrest, suspicion of nefarious intent, or anything of the sort.
Unfortunately, the NRA’s own statement is a little less balanced, in my opinion.
The National Rifle Association released the following statement regarding the recent officer-involved shooting in Minnesota:
“For months, radical progressive politicians like Tim Walz have incited violence against law enforcement officers who are simply trying to do their jobs. Unsurprisingly, these calls to dangerously interject oneself into legitimate law-enforcement activities have ended in violence, tragically resulting in injuries and fatalities.
As there is with any officer-involved shooting, there will be a robust and comprehensive investigation that takes place to determine if the use of force was justified. As we await these facts and gain a clearer understanding, we urge the political voices to lower the temperature to ensure their constituents and law enforcement officers stay safe.”
It is sort of neutral, but it also implies that Pretti was in the wrong for being there while armed. I mean, unlike when Philando Castille was killed, they made a statement, so that’s an improvement, and I will acknowledge that they do talk about an investigation, which most definitely needs to happen–and not because some people are butthurt about ICE, but because all officer-involved shootings should be investigated–so it’s still better than we’ve seen in the past.
This didn’t have to happen. The NRA is right when they talk about inciting violence against ICE playing a role. Even if Pretti had no such intention, the pump was primed. Gasoline was poured, and it was only a matter of time before the match was lit. Sooner or later, someone was going to get jumpy and pull the trigger when it wasn’t clear they were justified in shooting.
You can’t keep threatening to kill people because of their job, then be shocked when they react. ICE agents are human, and while I won’t excuse it, I also won’t act shocked that it happened.
For all the complaints about stochastic terrorism for years, these same people act shocked when it happens from their side or when law enforcement seems to take threats against their lives seriously.
The sad thing is that we’re reaching a boiling point as a nation, and if we don’t settle down, things are going to get to be more than a muddled mess. They’re going to get bloody.
Editor’s Note: The radical left will stop at nothing to enact their radical gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights.
Help us continue to report on and expose the Democrats’ gun control policies and schemes. Join Bearing Arms VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.
Read the full article here
