Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino has sparked outrage with his assertion that Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Veterans Affairs nurse who was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents during a Minneapolis protest, "forfeited" his Second Amendment rights.
In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday, Bovino claimed that Pretti's actions - placing himself between several women and agents, shoving the women, and carrying a firearm - meant he surrendered his constitutional right to bear arms. However, video footage of the incident contradicts this narrative, showing Pretti attempting to intervene on behalf of the women being shoved by agents.
Bovino also shifted the blame onto Pretti, stating that the Border Patrol agents were the true victims in the confrontation. He even went so far as to say that those who engage in rioting and assaulting law enforcement officers can forfeit their rights, including the Second Amendment.
Other Trump cabinet members echoed this line of thinking on Sunday's press shows. FBI Director Kash Patel claimed that protesters do not have a right to carry firearms, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that bringing a gun to a protest is not allowed.
This assertion by federal officials raises serious concerns about the erosion of Second Amendment rights and the ability to freely express dissent in peaceful protests. It also highlights the stark contrast between the words and actions of those who claim to uphold constitutional rights, and those who seek to infringe upon them through executive fiat.
In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday, Bovino claimed that Pretti's actions - placing himself between several women and agents, shoving the women, and carrying a firearm - meant he surrendered his constitutional right to bear arms. However, video footage of the incident contradicts this narrative, showing Pretti attempting to intervene on behalf of the women being shoved by agents.
Bovino also shifted the blame onto Pretti, stating that the Border Patrol agents were the true victims in the confrontation. He even went so far as to say that those who engage in rioting and assaulting law enforcement officers can forfeit their rights, including the Second Amendment.
Other Trump cabinet members echoed this line of thinking on Sunday's press shows. FBI Director Kash Patel claimed that protesters do not have a right to carry firearms, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that bringing a gun to a protest is not allowed.
This assertion by federal officials raises serious concerns about the erosion of Second Amendment rights and the ability to freely express dissent in peaceful protests. It also highlights the stark contrast between the words and actions of those who claim to uphold constitutional rights, and those who seek to infringe upon them through executive fiat.
. Those who say protesters have forfeited their Second Amendment rights just don't understand how peaceful dissent works, or what America is all about. 
It's like they think the Founding Fathers never actually intended for regular people to stand up and speak out against injustice – newsflash: we're talking about our Constitution here! 
. This Border Patrol commander thinks Alex Pretti forfeited his Second Amendment rights by doing the right thing? Like, what even is that logic? 
The dude was trying to protect some women from getting shoved by agents and Bovino's all like "oh no, you can't bear arms now"? That's wild. And other Trump cabinet members are chiming in with this nonsense too? It's like they think the Constitution is up for grabs or something 
. Newsflash: protesting peacefully isn't a crime, and people shouldn't be afraid to defend themselves or others when that happens 
. This whole thing just reeks of desperation from folks who can't handle the idea of peaceful dissent being a valid form of expression 
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. and btw, who exactly gets to decide what's a "riot" or when someone's a "victim"? this isn't about standin up for our rights, it's about silencin' dissenting voices 
. federal officials tryin to pull the wool over our eyes with some fancy-schmancy laws & interpretations 
. meanwhile, we should be focusin on real issues like police brutality & systemic inequality 
come on! The guy's gun was like a pacifier for the protesters, "forfeiting" his Second Amendment rights? Give me a break! 
if you're gonna get shot by agents, at least have the decency to go down fighting with your gun in hand. 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this news. What's next? Are we gonna start policing people for their opinions at protests too? 
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. And what about those agents who were literally shoving women around? That's some heavy-handed behavior right there 
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) instead of trying to silence everyone with executive orders 
... think Bovino & co are trying 2 create some kind of slippery slope where anyone who gets in the way @ a protest loses their rights 
it's not just about carrying a gun, it's about being able to speak out without fear of reprisal 
protests r meant 2 be loud & messy, but also safe & protected for everyone involved 
this is exactly what the founding fathers warned against - government overreach 
It's time for some real accountability here - not just lip service about "protecting" our rights, but actually doing something about it.