Trump says "you can't have guns" after border agents shoot Alex Pretti

Trump stated on Jan. 27, 2026, that 'you can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns' in response to questions about the APAlex Pretti shooting. When a reporter asked 'What about the Second Amendment?' Trump repeated: 'You can't walk in with guns. You can't do that.' The statements marked a sharp departure from Trump's typical pro-gun rhetoric and campaign promises to protect Second Amendment rights.

FBI Director Kash Patel appeared on Fox News to defend the shooting. He said 'You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple.' Patel's statement suggested that carrying multiple magazines at a protest justifies lethal force. Gun rights advocates challenged this interpretation as contradicting constitutional rights and established law.

A federal prosecutor in 🌴California stated: 'If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.' The NRNational Rifle Association called this analysis 'dangerous and wrong.' The NRA argued that lawful carry shouldn't create a presumption that officers can shoot on sight. The statement sparked a broader debate about Second Amendment rights versus officer safety.

Legal experts noted that Supreme Court precedent bolsters the right to carry guns at protests. Most states allow concealed carry without permits. 🦆Minnesota requires a permit but Pretti had a valid concealed carry permit issued by the state. University of Chicago law professor GSGeoffrey Stone stated: 'In those states with broad public-carry rights, the mere fact that an individual is armed at a protest is not itself a crime.'

Video evidence shows Pretti never unholstered his weapon before being shot. He was carrying a concealed firearm with a valid permit. Multiple witnesses said he didn't reach for the gun or make threatening movements. The video contradicts claims that Pretti drew or brandished the weapon. Legal experts said the video raises questions about whether the shooting was justified.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to reassert Trump as a 'staunch gun rights supporter' after his comments sparked backlash. She didn't explain the apparent contradiction between Trump's 'you can't have guns' statement and his Second Amendment positions. Gun rights groups demanded clarification on whether Trump's statement represents new policy or was a misstatement.

The controversy could create problems for Republicans heading into midterm elections. Gun rights voters are a core Republican constituency. Trump built his political brand partly on Second Amendment absolutism. Any perceived weakening on gun rights could depress turnout among this base. Republicans worry that Trump's statement gives Democrats ammunition to attack GOP gun positions.

The incident highlights the tension between Second Amendment rights and law enforcement authority. Police argue that armed individuals at protests create safety risks. Gun rights advocates argue that lawful carry is constitutionally protected. The Supreme Court has expanded gun rights in recent years through cases like 🏛️District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and 🗽New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022).