Posted on 01/26/2026 4:36:04 AM PST by DFG
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison previously argued that Americans have no Second Amendment right to carry firearms at political protests.
Ellison joined 16 other attorneys general from Democrat-led states in an amicus brief filed with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in January 2024, according to court records. The coalition argued states can ban firearms at political rallies and protests because such events attract violence.
The group also contended that guns at demonstrations could intimidate people and discourage them from speaking freely.
Ellison’s legal stance faced scrutiny Saturday when Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Pretti during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. The 37-year-old ICU nurse held a valid permit to carry and had no criminal record, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said.
In a statement, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus called the shooting “deeply concerning.”
“Every peaceable Minnesotan has the right to keep and bear arms—including while attending protests, acting as observers, or exercising their First Amendment rights,” the organization said. “These rights do not disappear when someone is lawfully armed.”
In comments to the Minneapolis-based FOX 9, Rob Doar of the Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center pushed back against Ellison’s reasoning.
“If he had a permit to carry, it’s not unlawful to be carrying while you’re exercising your First Amendment right,” Doar said. “You don’t have to pick between which rights you exercise.”
Doar added that video footage appeared to show agents had already removed Pretti’s firearm before they opened fire.
Ellison has since filed a lawsuit to preserve evidence in the shooting. He labeled the federal presence in Minnesota an “illegal and unconstitutional occupation” and called for a full investigation into Pretti’s death.
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Democrats hate Second Amrndmrnt unless Democrat terrorists are using guns to kill/shoot cops/federal law enforcement.
Then they love the Second Amendment.
Oops, Gavin Newsom Forgot: He Banned Guns at Protests – Now He's the 2A Champion Against Trump
They also suddenly discover states’ rights.
P.S. Sorry guys. You’re 165 years late to the party. You had your chance to stand up for states’ rights then. You don’t get to invoke it now.
The whole point of mass demonstrations- as opposed to actually petitioning your government peacefully or engaging in debate - is to form as large and unruly a mob to intimidate, whether or not anyone has guns. Mobs are like explosives by nature, always just one spark short of cooking off.
He’s been near the top of my Official Slime Ball List for years.
I spotted him a looong time ago.
They are still very much outraged by Rittenhouse’s used of the 2nd amendment to defend himself. They compare him to their protesters but he wasn’t there to protest or counter protest, he was there to help protect a business property from vandalism and looting by people pretending to be “protesters.”
Maybe it is because what the left really opposes is the arena of ideas where peaceful communication and reasoned debate are respected by participants on all sides of an issue.
of course people have the right to bear arms.
BUT
if you are bearing arms and choose to obstruct justice and then resist arrest, the fact that you are armed ups your chance of being shot by the police while resisting by 100 times.
Exercising your First Amendment right does not include attacking officers and rioting while armed.
This is just another suicide by cop.
The left still can’t figure out why there was an issue with Crooks bring a rifle to a DJT rally or Robinson bringing a rifle to Charlie Kirk meet and greet.
I mean, they’re both U. S. citizens, what happened to their 2A rights???
There's the caveat and it didn't apply in this situation.
Rittenhouse was set upon by a roving band of armed Antifa rioters.
It was amidst a full scale riot complete with , arson, looting , so on.
Not even close to the situation the nurse brought about.
Yet that won’t stop the brainwashing social media to say different
If one is going to carry at a protest, he should be in command of his emotions.
“Every peaceable Minnesotan...
There’s the caveat and it didn’t apply in this situation.”
Those who support concealed carry are missing that point.
I’ve been thinking about how dumb this guy was. Yes, he had a permit and yes, he was going into a very politically charged environment where the chances of an encounter with law enforcement was very likely.
Had he had a normal encounter and the gun was found, he’d be in serious trouble for not carrying his ID and permit.
You’d think he would be carrying a throwaway gun rather than a $2000 firearm.
Or, was his mindset suicide by cop so he wouldn’t need the gun anyhow after he was dead?
There are some photo’s floating around purporting to be him dressed as a woman, if true, you know he was a serious mental defective.
AD Ellison has become unstable. He claimed to be a devout Catholic and later converted to islam. He either has a mental problem or has turned to drugs.
“””Or, was his mindset suicide by cop so he wouldn’t need the gun anyhow after he was dead?”””
I think he was becoming more radicalized over time. He was very active in the peaceful burning of Minneapolistan after Saint Floyd overdosed. His wife divorced him. She said he was buying guns. He has been very active in the ICE protests. When he went to the last riot I doubt he was afraid of his fellow nutjobs. So why was he so loaded up?
Going out in a blaze of glory???? Wanted to be a hero like Saint Floyd?
And we (rightly) argued for that right.
My guess is he had a bad case of TDS and it turned out to be fatal
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