Gun rights groups say Trump has their back despite 'wrong' comments

Since Alex Pretti was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent and a Customs and Border Protection officer on Jan. 24 in Minneapolis, President Trump has criticized Mr. Pretti for carrying a firearm — but many gun rights groups say they remain aligned with the president despite calling his comments wrong.

Mr. Trump said, "I don’t like that he had a gun, I don’t like that he had two fully loaded magazines," and also said, "You can’t have guns, you can’t walk in with guns." Those remarks appeared to contradict his past support for broader concealed-carry rights; Mr. Trump was grazed by a bullet during the 2024 campaign.

Some prominent gun-rights organizations publicly rebuked the president’s rhetoric. Dudley Brown of the National Association for Gun Rights said, "Mr. President, you’re wrong." The N.R.A. wrote that it "unequivocally believes that all law‑abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be," and called a prosecutor’s post saying officers would likely be justified in shooting someone who approached police with a gun "dangerous and wrong." Still, several groups pointed to administration actions they view as supportive of expanded gun rights, including court filings and a new Justice Department section focused on gun rights.

Mr. Pretti had a valid permit and video shows his gun was holstered and covered by his coat until after agents wrestled him to the ground; the Minneapolis police chief said he had seen no evidence that Mr.

alex pretti shooting, donald trump gun comments, border patrol agent, customs and border protection, concealed carry rights, valid carry permit, minneapolis shooting, national rifle association, national association for gun rights, justice department gun section, massachusetts handgun restrictions, video shows holstered gun, bryan strawser, minnesota gun owners caucus