MAGA Leaders Celebrated Kyle Rittenhouse For Bringing AR-STYLE RIFLE To Protest And Called Him A Hero — Now The Same People Are Blaming Alex Pretti For Legally Having A Handgun He Wasn’t Even Using

Perez Hilton

MAKE. IT. MAKE. SENSE.

The country is in mourning after a 37-year-old citizen, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by several ICE agents in Minnesota over the weekend. And now, politicians’ reaction to the incident is drawing a comparison to their viewpoint on Kyle Rittenhouse‘s case.

As you’ll recall, back in August 2020, Kyle, then 17, shot three men — fatally killing two — at a protest in Wisconsin. He was largely hailed a hero by conservatives, who said his right to bring an AR-15-style rifle to a peaceful protest was protected by the Second Amendment. After a trial, he was acquitted of all charges after a jury found him not guilty.

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Meanwhile, Alex Pretti was simply recording ICE agents on his phone when he and others were attacked. When a woman beside him was pushed to the ground, the former ICU nurse tried to help her back up, getting pepper-sprayed in the process before several agents dragged him to the ground, swarmed him, and shot him 10 times. Horrific.

And the defense for this incomprehensible behavior? Many on the MAGA side of the US government have claimed ICE’s agents were justified because Alex was, according to them and their reckless labeling — a so-called “domestic terrorist.” They claimed because he showed up to the incident with a legal, holstered weapon — that he seemingly not once attempted to use — that he was a danger. Completely ignoring the fact that the Second Amendment and local laws GIVE HIM THE RIGHT TO CARRY A WEAPON! He was also disarmed by agents before shots were fired. He posed no threat and yet still died anyway.

Per photos shared by The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Alex was carrying a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol, which is widely popular and often used by the US military and law enforcement, including by ICE agents. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security shared a photo of it resting on a car seat next to an ejectable magazine loaded with bullets. A firearm expert, Joshua Harrison, told The Minnesota Star Tribune it appeared to be model P320 AXG Combat — the P320 was the second-bestselling handgun in the US in 2023. Experts also noticed it had some custom modifications, including a detachable sight, a flat trigger, and customized grip, all which are common among gun enthusiasts.

Following this killing, conservatives who fought to protect the Second Amendment are now completely changing their tune! Trey Gowdy called these hypocrites out during Fox News‘ America’s Newsroom on Monday, pointing out:

“It could come down, Bill, to which of those ten shots was actually the fatal shot. And I think what frustrates people — you remember Kyle Rittenhouse and how he was made a hero on the right. I’m sure there are people on the conservative side who are saying, ‘Wait a minute, you mean you can’t take a firearm to a protest? Because you were just celebrating a guy for doing it a couple of years ago.’ Alex Pretti’s firearm was lawfully being carried. It’s lawful to carry a gun in Minnesota. He never brandished it. He didn’t point it at the cops.”

Yeah, WTF gives??

And yet, those in the government don’t seem to realize how wrong their new stance is! During Sunday’s episode of This Week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent DEFENDED ICE’s actions, saying to ABC News‘ Jonathan Karl:

“Jonathan, it’s a tragedy when anyone dies, but I can tell you the situation on the ground there is being stirred up by Governor
 Walz.”

Be so for real right now. Discussing the death of a human being should NEVER be followed up with “but”!

He went on:

“I am sorry that this gentleman is dead, but he did bring a 9mm semi-automatic weapon with two cartridges to what was supposed to be a peaceful protest. I think that there are a lot of paid agitators who are jenning things up, and the Governor has not done a good job at tamping this down.”

When the journalist reiterated that “there’s no evidence that he brandished the gun,” the Treasurer fought back:

“But he brought a gun! He brought a gun.”

After questioning if the reporter has been to a protest, Scott smirked:

“I’ve been to a protest, and guess what? I didn’t bring a gun, I brought a billboard.”

Okay, and? That doesn’t negate the fact Alex Pretti was in his legal second amendment right to conceal and carry. Sigh.

Yet again they’re completely ignoring the Second Amendment they once fought for! Plus, ignoring the fact that there’s NO evidence Alex was a threat to anyone!

FBI Director Kash Patel made similar remarks on Fox News, arguing the death was justified because he was carrying a firearm:

“As Kristi [Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security] said, you cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It’s that simple. You don’t have a right to break the law and incite violence.”

YET KYLE DID?! And he got away with it??

His comments have since been community-noted on X (Twitter), with the correction calling him out for being wrong and citing state and federal legal documents. It states:

“Under the Second Amendment and MN Stat. 624.714, permit holders may legally carry firearms in public, including during protests. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that public carry is a constitutional right. Carrying a firearm does not legally constitute ‘inciting violence.'”

Many have reshared the interview clip, commenting:

“Weird, I’ve taken pictures of people bringing firearms, loaded with multiple magazines to protests outside Minnesota Governor @Tim_Walz home and the Minnesota State Capitol.”

“This is completely incorrect on Minnesota law. There is no prohibition on a permit holder carrying a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines at a protest or rally in Minnesota.”

“But Alex Pretti who had a holstered, permitted handgun, was recording ICE, and tried to help a pepper-sprayed woman deserved to die? No one is buying this BS.”

“So the 2nd Amendment only applies to conservatives?”

“Quick question: Does it matter that the director of the FBI is flat out wrong about what the law says? Because that seems like it should matter. It should be at least embarrassing and possibly utterly damning”

Kash was also put on blast for supporting Kyle back in 2021, when he was working to help Kyle clear his name! He said at the time:

“This is what Fight with Kash is for. We will help Kyle Rittenhouse.”

 

To learn more about civil rights issues, check out https://www.splcenter.org/. 

[Image via GoFundMe & MEGA/WENN]

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