Republicans warn legal gun owners they will be shot dead

Contrary to the past few decades of party activism, a prominent Republican has warned Americans that authorities may shoot them dead if they choose to legally carry firearms:

If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.

Don’t do it! https://t.co/DNpyew6PMh

— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) January 24, 2026

The above statement follows ICE agents shooting a disarmed man who had been legally carrying a permitted firearm.

He never brandished his gun he was legally permitted to carry. He was holding his phone. An officer beat him, disarmed him, and he was executed.

Alex touched many lives, including mine, as I sang in the Green Bay Boy Choir with him for years.

Alex Pretti was murdered today. pic.twitter.com/oSeQ9zmmIB

— Mark Becker (@markbecker26) January 24, 2026

And as we’ll see, Donald Trump himself has made a very similar comment to the one at the top.

Shooters

One thing to clarify up front for non-Americans is that US citizens aren’t simply allowed to own guns at home; they’re allowed to carry them around. This is what the BBC wrote in 2019:

In America, it’s not unusual for people to have a gun. Almost every adult can own or carry one.

It is seen as a person’s basic right to be allowed to do this.

That’s because when the country was founded, the right to buy and carry a gun was written into the constitution, which is a list of basic rules that a country is based on.

The only reasons that someone might not be allowed to have a gun would be if they are a convicted criminal, have a mental health illness or if they are not a US citizen.

Some activists have pushed for restrictions on gun ownership following the almost daily mass shootings. The Democrats have implemented some restrictions while mostly supporting the status quo; the Republicans have staunchly opposed any changes whatsoever. This is why the Republicans’ sudden flip flop is seen as a betrayal by American gun nuts.

One group speaking out is the notorious National Rifle Association (NRA):

This sentiment from the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California is dangerous and wrong.

Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens. https://t.co/9fMz3CL29o

— NRA (@NRA) January 25, 2026

Wow. Even the NRA thinks Trump’s DOJ stooge in California has gone too far for claiming federal agents were “legally justified” to kill Alex Pretti. https://t.co/0ME1JrjH1S

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) January 25, 2026

Speaking of Trump, this is what he said on Truth Social alongside an image of the slain Alex Pretti’s gun:

This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about? Where are the local Police?

‘What is that all about’ — you understand you live in America, right?

Obviously it’s fucking insane you’re all packing heat, but guess what; this is the hell you’ve made for yourselves.

They took his firearm and then killed him after. https://t.co/lUeQvfhokd

— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) January 24, 2026

We should note that while Trump definitely said the above, the following screengrab is a fabrication:

Hey MAGA

Your president Donald Trump believes if you have a gun you’re a criminal.

Wonder what the @nra thinks about this 🤔 pic.twitter.com/JNd0nDaaOm

— David Leavitt 🎲🎮🧙‍♂️🌈 (@DavidLeavitt) January 25, 2026

We’re not sure why anyone chose to fabricate this when it’s so close to what he actually said, but hey, that’s the internet for you.

Republicans — it turns out guns do kill people

The following is a famous slogan used by the NRA and others:

I’ll give you my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hands

In Trump’s America, the authorities will pry the gun from your hands and then shoot you.

And they’ll do so with full support from the top:

This level of engineered chaos is unique to Minneapolis. It is the direct consequence of far left agitators, working with local authorities.

— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 25, 2026

Stephen Miller just called Alex Pretti a "domestic terrorist" who wanted to "massacre law enforcement." Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old American. Legal gun owner. Permit to carry. No criminal record.He's dead. He can't speak. So they're writing the story for him.T his is what it… pic.twitter.com/DlwJtHwBBz

— Conflict Alarm (@ConflictAlarm) January 24, 2026

Featured image via Wikimedia