Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) defended the “Constitutionally protected God-given right” to carry a firearm after a Minneapolis protester carrying a handgun was shot by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday.
The Trump administration is defending federal law enforcement after a shooting left Alex Pretti, 37, dead, with video showing he was disarmed before being shot multiple times. Pretti was helping another protester who had been shoved to the ground when an agent began pepper-spraying him from behind and wrestled him to the ground with the help of several other agents. During the struggle, an agent was seen carrying what appeared to be Pretti’s gun away, with the fatal shots being fired seconds later.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Fox News’s The Sunday Briefing that agents were reacting to someone shouting “Gun, gun, gun!” and FBI Director Kash Patel claimed on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo that people can’t bring a firearm “loaded with multiple magazines” to a protest despite Pretti having a concealed carry permit. Noem had said on Saturday that Pretti was a domestic terrorist.
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First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli took to X on Saturday to address the shooting, claiming “there is a high likelihood” law enforcement will be “legally justified” in shooting people approaching them with a gun. His statement prompted a rebuff from Massie.
“Carrying a firearm is not a death sentence, it’s a Constitutionally protected God-given right, and if you don’t understand this you have no business in law enforcement or government,” Massie said on X.
The National Rifle Association also pushed back on Essayli’s “dangerous and wrong” assessment of the shooting. The organization also said “responsible” people should await a full investigation instead of “demonizing law-abiding citizens.”
Massie’s stance on Pretti and the Minneapolis shooting marks his latest stance contrasting with the Trump administration. Most recently, he was one of two Republicans to support a measure seeking to rein in President Donald Trump’s war power, which failed in a tie vote of 215-215.
Trump is pushing to primary Massie in the 2026 midterm election cycle, asking “all MAGA Warriors” to back his endorsed candidate to run against Massie, Ed Gallrein. The primary election is set for May 19.
