The NRA wakes up to ICE

I’m opposed to allowing private citizens to carry guns in public unless they are hunting on public land. The 2nd amendment explicitly links “bearing arms” (nobody “bears arms” into a 7-11) to membership in a well regulated militia, Antonin Scalia notwithstanding. If you believe you need a gun to protect yourself in your own home, fine.

I’m also opposed to concealed carry. If we’re going to allow people to carry, it should be conspicuous carry. All civilian firearms should be orange, the same orange as a hunter’s vest, so I can spot them from a distance and avoid the company of ammosexual amateurs.

Alex Pretti was packing legally. He had a concealed carry license. He was the proverbial “good guy with a gun.” But he was murdered by the government, giving the lie to the juvenile notion that guns in the hands of civilians will stop government oppression. 

The NRA and other gun manufacturer lobby organizations have long defended the proliferation of deadly force under the control of untrained amateurs in public spaces. So it was at least internally consistent that the NRA is pushing back against the Trump administration on the Alex Pretti assassination:

“The NRA waded into the national dialogue over Pretti’s killing after Bill Essayli – who was appointed by Trump to temporarily serve as a US attorney in California in 2025 – posted on social media: “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.”

 

“In response, the NRA posted: “This sentiment … is dangerous and wrong. Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.”

 

“Gun Owners of America, a non-profit lobbying organization, also criticized that claim from Essayli – who is now an acting first assistant US attorney for California’s central federal district court.

“Federal agents are not ‘highly likely’ to be ‘legally justified’ in ‘shooting’ concealed carry licensees who approach while lawfully carrying a firearm,” the group posted.”

 

Still waiting to hear the NRA quote Jefferson: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.” Will the NRA start organizing angry short white guys in camo as well-regulated militias to oppose the tyrants of ICE? This is the moment their ammosexual army claimed they were arming for.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/25/alex-pretti-killing-nra-pro-gun-groups

 

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