The Trump administration's latest stance on the Second Amendment has sent shockwaves through the gun rights community, with many leaders and organizations denouncing the administration's new doctrine that federal agents can shoot and kill legal gun owners who approach them.
According to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, if you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you. This pronouncement has been met with outrage from gun rights advocates, who point out that this new doctrine flies in the face of Trump's campaign promises on Second Amendment issues.
Critics argue that the administration's stance on the Second Amendment has become increasingly authoritarian, with federal officials using their powers to target and harass lawful gun owners. The Pretti killing and its official defense expose a wider hypocrisy in Trump's approach to gun rights, despite his rhetoric.
Under Trump, gun rights have increasingly been filtered through federal power, not individual freedom. Now, after a second fatal shooting by federal immigration authorities in Minneapolis in as many weeks, the administration is crystallizing this shift as de facto policy: If an American simply owns a gun in front of feds, the use of "deadly force" is not just permitted but justified.
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According to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, if you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you. This pronouncement has been met with outrage from gun rights advocates, who point out that this new doctrine flies in the face of Trump's campaign promises on Second Amendment issues.
Critics argue that the administration's stance on the Second Amendment has become increasingly authoritarian, with federal officials using their powers to target and harass lawful gun owners. The Pretti killing and its official defense expose a wider hypocrisy in Trump's approach to gun rights, despite his rhetoric.
Under Trump, gun rights have increasingly been filtered through federal power, not individual freedom. Now, after a second fatal shooting by federal immigration authorities in Minneapolis in as many weeks, the administration is crystallizing this shift as de facto policy: If an American simply owns a gun in front of feds, the use of "deadly force" is not just permitted but justified.
The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world. We understand the challenge we face in Trump and the vital importance of press freedom in defending democracy.
The Intercept needs your help to continue our independent reporting on these issues. Will you consider supporting us today?
It's like they wanna create a surveillance state or something. I get where the gun owners are comin from, but come on, we gotta be careful not to overstep our bounds. This is like somethin outta a sci-fi movie! The whole "if you approach law enforcement with a gun, you're askin for deadly force" thing just sounds too aggressive. It's like they're tryna control every aspect of our lives.
, this is like something outta a movie where the cops are basically saying they can just shoot anyone who dares approach them with a gun. That's not freedom, that's anarchy 
. I've got a buddy whose cousin was killed by police, and he's still living with PTSD, so this new doctrine is just going to put more people in harm's way. It's all about controlling the narrative and making an example out of these law-abiding gun owners who are just trying to protect themselves and their families 
. I'm calling BS on Trump's whole Second Amendment thing – it's all a smokescreen for his real agenda 
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meanwhile ppl are still dying because of these "authoritarian" policies 
, it sounds super aggressive. I mean, if you just approach law enforcement with a gun, they're gonna shoot you no matter what? That's not cool at all. It feels like they're trying to intimidate people into giving up their rights. And can we talk about how Trump has been all over the map on Second Amendment issues? One day he's all for it, next day he's all against it... what even is going on? 
We need more clarity and transparency from our leaders, you know? This kinda thing just makes me nervous 
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, we didn't have all these new-fangled laws and whatnot about guns and police interactions. It just seemed like common sense, you know? Now it feels like the whole system is being turned on its head 
. And don't even get me started on the "deadly force" thing 
... that's just plain chilling 
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. It's like we've lost all sense of reason and common decency 
We need more accountability and transparency, not a whole lot of fear-mongering. 
The Second Amendment is about protecting our freedom, not getting us killed by the very people we're paying to keep us safe. 
Being stopped for no reason and getting a bullet in the back? 
The thought of being told that if you approach the feds with a gun, they're justified in taking your life is just... wow. Unbelievable. What's next, are we gonna be told to drop and give 'em 20? 
we need more transparency and accountability from our government! 
I'm not saying gun control isn't necessary, but this is just ridiculous. What's next, having the police shoot people who are peacefully protesting? 
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