At some point I will be posting additional information being released about the recent shooting in MPLS, but I wanted to deal with a related issue first and separately.
Much has been made of the fact that Pretti held a carry permit and was legally allowed to carry concealed in MN. While I have no first hand knowledge of this, I am accepting it as True. Where this has become a problem is that it's being seized on by people who vehemently oppose the very notion of people being legally allowed to carry a gun, and by those who would prefer that the 2A not exist and that all guns be confiscated in an attempt to prove a point. I'll address this from two perspectives.
1. The 2A is an "inalienable right" guaranteed in the constitution, and affirmed multiple times by SCOTUS. It is the law of the land. So I 100% agree that Pretti had an absolute 2A right to own a firearm (in this case a literal "military grade" firearm, with a multiple "high capacity magazines"), I also recognize that the right to own a gun comes with responsibilities. I would humbly suggest that carrying a gun when interfering with federal law enforcement probably isn't the most responsible thing to do.
2. In MN there is a fairly involved process to go through before being granted a permit to carry. As a part of the required class work, an inordinate amount of time is spent on three things. First, the requirement to have both ID and your permit card on your person when carrying a gun. Second, how to interact with law enforcement if you are carrying a legally concealed gun on your person or in your car. They spend a lot of time on this one, I thought it was excessive but I may have been wrong. Third, the responsibility that comes with choosing to carry and the consequences that may be involved if you do make that choice. In short, the class was much less about the right/privilege of owning/carrying a gun and much more about the responsibilities that one shoulders of one chooses to do so. The simple reality of carrying a gun in public is that you are making a positive choice (and jumping through hoops to do so) that could result in you shooting and wounding or killing another human. This is not something to be engaged in lightly, although many do. Carrying a concealed weapon is an acceptance of being held to a higher standard of conduct, and increased responsibility over those who choose not to. One final part of the process involves the choice of what gun one wants to carry. I'd argue that choosing to carry a gun with a well known history of problems with accidental discharge into a confrontation with law enforcement was simply one more poor choice in this scenario.
On a related note, the local rabble rousers here in MSP spent a couple of weeks flooding social media with "How To" graphics regarding interacting with ICE or other law enforcement. One salient feature was the admonition to avoid actually interfering with law enforcement.
So what we end up with as we evaluate the Pretti situation (regardless of the additional information that is coming out) is the realization that Pretti chose to ignore what he learned in his carry class, and to ignore the advice of the protest experts. Clearly, his choices to ignore what he'd been taught had horrible consequences.
Finally, I find it hilarious that the anti-gun ASPL has set aside it's opposition to civilians owning "military grade" weapons, to "high capacity" magazines, to concealed carry, to guns not intended for "hunting", and for gun ownership itself in order to beatify this guy who went against all of those deeply held convictions. Just because it helps them score some temporary political points. The colossal irony of a bunch of people who fought to deny people like Pretti the ability to carry an gun, defending the role his choice to do so (and to ignore his training) is lost on those who should be most aware of it. That Pretti will, at some point, be used as a poster boy to end carry or gun ownership seems to be a given.
3 comments:
Good post. It must never be forgotten or dismissed how much is own behavior led to his demise. But it's Standard Operating Procedure for the marxist left (like Dan) to blame the good guys for the unfortunate and permanent consequences of the bad choices and behaviors of the actual bad guys. And yeah...when one obstructs LE in the righteous commission of their sworn duties, one has chosen to become the bad guy.
The vast majority of the vocal ASPL spends all sorts of time loudly asserting their rights with little or no thought to the responsibilities that go with those rights.
Beyond that, there is a deep and abiding ignorance regarding gun laws and the 2A. Now that one of their (remember that violence is anathema to the ASPL) own is the victim of his choices under both of those laws, they've become 2A/CCW scholars overnight. That they misrepresent all sorts of important things or don't really believe any of the bullshit they're spouting (99% of the most vocal supporters of his "right to bear arms" would abolish that right in a heartbeat of given the chance) is ignored as they revel in their inconsistency.
The simple fact is that he he been arrested, he'd have been charged with several felonies.
Bovino has been let go.
The two killers are on administrative leave.
Noem may be on her way out.
Many Republicans are pushing for all this, recognizing the abuse of power by Noem/Bovino/ICE and the degree of responsibility that ICE has for invoking protests of their abusive behaviors.
WE HAVE VIDEO TAPE FOOTAGE of the murder of this innocent man. FROM MULTIPLE ANGLES.
What we ALL can see are oppressors pushing a woman to the ground, for no discernible reason but probably because "they made us mad."
We see this good samaritan (who just recently had his RIB broken by ICE oppressors while peacefully protesting) be maced, pushed to the ground, beaten, his HOLSTERED LEGAL GUN removed by the jackboots and then, at least two of them shooting an innocent and unarmed man who had NOT attacked them... just the opposite.
We see the fascists (Noem, Miller, The Felon) automatically call this hero, Pretti, a terrorist intent on killing LEO, as many as possible... We see them saying that EVEN BEFORE any evidence was widely exposed. It was a default claim without evidence, because they want to try to "control" the message, even if it's all fucking bullshit. They LIED about good and decent people, slandered them, blaming THEM for their own murders.
We can see ALL of this. It's been widely out there in the public viewing.
Finally, we see the useful idiots defending the murder of US citizens and chastising a murder victim of an oppressive regime for having a legal, holstered weapon... EVEN WHILE you all defended the murderer, Kyle Rittenhouse, who brought an AR15 rifle to a protest, bearing it openly and in an effort to intimidate (as opposed to Pretti's holstered weapon). We see the hypocrisy and the defense of murderers who you're fine with, as long as they're "one of yours."
We see.
Also, I know you all (conservatives) historically are incredibly inept at understanding nuance, but not all progressives want to "take away guns..." Not even most of us.
For instance, we reasonably criticize Rittenhouse for openly brandishing a firearm in a volatile situation, BUT, we would condemn police officers if they had just shot him simply for having the firearm.
Reality matters, men. Open your eyes. You're being suckered by an especially dumb administration who just LOVES useful idiots... until you're not useful any more.
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