Comparisons drawn between Alex Pretti, Kyle Rittenhouse in renewed Second Amendment debate
Ex-Illinois House GOP Leader Durkin called the White House's comments on the Minneapolis shooting 'the height of hypocrisy.'
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Saturday's fatal shooting of a man by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis has renewed a debate over the Second Amendment and concealed carry laws. But this time, the political roles are reversed.
The right to bear arms has been a big Republican Party issue for decades. Conservative politicians have strongly defended the Second Amendment by successfully passing gun rights laws, such as concealed carry, in every state. Minneapolis shooting victim Alex Pretti was legally carrying a firearm. But top Trump administration officials say he did not have a right to do so.
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"You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It is that simple," said Director Kash Patel.
However, President Donald Trump supported Kyle Rittenhouse after he shot and killed two men who tried grabbing his gun during protesters following a shooting involving police. Additionally, some Jan. 6 rioters were armed, and many Republicans supported a Missouri couple who pointed their firearms at protesters after George Floyd's killing.
"The height of hypocrisy which continues out of the White House, scrambling to find some reason to show why these agents were justified," said former Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.
SEE ALSO | Alex Pretti, man fatally shot by federal agents, born in Chicago north suburb, officials confirm
Durkin says the hypocrisy surrounding the Minneapolis case will continue to fracture the Republican Party. While it took over 20 years to pass a restricted concealed carry law in Illinois, residents have a right to carry a loaded firearm to a protest. Minnesota shares the same rights.
"Mr. Pretti was not violating the law in terms of the Second Amendment. He had a protected right, and the law in Minnesota did not prohibit him from carrying a firearm," said Rob Chadwick with the U.S. Concealed Carry Association.
But Chadwick, a former FBI agent, says the law gets dicey if the armed person inserts themselves in a law enforcement operation. USCCA and a growing number of Republicans are calling for a full investigation into Pretti's death.
"When you take that step and get involved physically in a law enforcement action, it is incredibly dangerous and unintended consequences do happen," Chadwick said.
Meanwhile, White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt says Trump absolutely supports the Second Amendment for law-abiding Americans, but not for people who impede immigration enforcement operations.
