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NRA pushes back on Trump, Patel saying people who attend protests shouldn’t have guns

The NRA defended lawful gun owners' rights and urged patience for investigations after officials, including Trump, criticized Alex Pretti for carrying a permitted firearm.

  • On Jan. 27, 2026, the National Rifle Association pushed back on President Donald Trump's statement that Alex Pretti should not have been carrying a gun, urging a full investigation and warning against demonizing law-abiding citizens.
  • Federal immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, 2026; he held a state-issued concealed-carry permit, and a CBP OPR review omitted brandishing claims.
  • President Donald Trump told reporters on Jan. 27, 2026 that people should not walk into protests armed, while Bill Essayli wrote on X that approaching law enforcement with a gun justifies being shot.
  • The NRA affirmed that every peaceable Minnesotan may lawfully bear arms, and member backlash followed, with IndependentBuffalo canceling membership on January 26, 2026, and a multiple 5 digit donor pulling funds.
  • Observers say the episode reflects deeper political fault lines as gun-rights groups compared it to Kyle Rittenhouse and Philando Castile, underscoring partisan divides while the Trump administration reviews the incident earlier this week.
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Politico broke the news in on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
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