* Background from Newsweek…
FBI Director Kash Patel’s remarks about firearms following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal agent has sparked anger from gun rights advocates.
“You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It’s that simple. You don’t have that right to break the law and incite violence,” Patel said during an interview on Fox News on Sunday.
Bringing a gun to a protest in Minnesota is legal. As far as Pretti inciting violence, that’s a thoroughly debunked and discredited remark.
* Anyway, the react to Patel’s comments and the entire situation by gun rights groups has been widespread, so I’ve been asking the Illinois State Rifle Association for comment. Here it is…
The Illinois State Rifle Association is concerned about recent statements from US Attorney Bill Essayli and FBI Director Kash Patel implying that people do not have a right to carry firearms at protests. The ISRA maintains that individuals have a constitutional right to carry a firearm at a protest, provided they are acting lawfully. ISRA calls for an open and transparent investigation into the recent shooting incident in Minnesota.
The association also commends Illinois General Assembly members who previously opposed the Second Amendment but now recognize the right to carry firearms outside the home. The Illinois State Rifle Association looks forward to collaborating with these legislators to review and address unconstitutional laws, beginning with Section 65 (”Prohibited Areas”) of the Conceal Carry Act of 2013 (430 ILCS 66/65).
* It’s not legal in Illinois for a licensee under the Conceal Carry Act to bring their weapon to a permitted protest or demonstration…
Sec. 65. Prohibited areas. (a) A licensee under this Act shall not knowingly carry a firearm on or into: […]
Any public gathering or special event conducted on property open to the public that requires the issuance of a permit from the unit of local government, provided this prohibition shall not apply to a licensee who must walk through a public gathering in order to access his or her residence, place of business, or vehicle.
Discuss.
- AlfondoGonz - Tuesday, Jan 27, 26 @ 11:38 am:
I’m almost surprised that the GOP’s hypocrisy extends to gun rights. Gun rights always seemed like a sacred cow.
I’m opposed to guns in general. In my experience, a meaningful portion of the people who are drawn to guns are exactly the type of people you don’t want carrying guns. But the 2A exists, and the GOP has deployed scare tactics for decades alleging that the next Democrat elected to office is going to sweep guns from peoples’ homes and outlaw them.
And now, we have a legal carrier, who never reached for, displayed, or brandished his legal weapon, blamed for his own murder because Trump’s goons are people without principle whose entire ethos revolves around saying what they think Trump wants to hear.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Jan 27, 26 @ 11:42 am:
Yeah, that’s the problem with zealotry.
There’s always someone more extreme than you.
Actually, to them, you’re the enemy.
- Shytown - Tuesday, Jan 27, 26 @ 11:44 am:
Leave it to the ISRA to try and twist what everyone with a working brain, legislators included, are pointing out about the Pretti situation and the utter undeniable hypocrisy of what everyone in the Trump administration has been saying re not bringing a gun to a protest, which is legal in Minnesota. Also, Rittenhouse anyone? If this happened during a protest under a Dem administration, they would be leading marches on the streets, guns and all blazing.
- Archpundit - Tuesday, Jan 27, 26 @ 11:50 am:
It’s unclear if Pretti was out protesting or went to get donuts and ended up in the middle of a DHS caravan or some combination. It’s kind of hard to distinguish given the constant presence of DHS all over. I could go to the store in the Twin Cities and be in the middle of a DHS caravan and a protest without any intention. If I know I’m going to a protest I personally won’t carry, but that’s not how life is divided up right now.
- localgovhero - Tuesday, Jan 27, 26 @ 11:58 am:
Hey, I know that they are hopping on it for their own interests, but good for ISRA.
As a democrat, I never had a negative view on the Second Amendment. Just guns. Our firearm rights are grounded in the ability to overthrow and fend off a tyrannical/authoritarian government. *cough Feds in Minnesota, California, Chicago, etc..
Our firearm rights are not grounded in giving the uneducated, the mentally unstable, men wearing grunt style t-shirts, an unlimited ability to own military style equipment.
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Tuesday, Jan 27, 26 @ 12:04 pm:
I feel for ISRA. Their job is to feed a constituency that will vote Republican or stay home, and now that the Republican president had turned on their central tenet, they have to find a way to justify their hyper partisanship without criticising the party that creates them.
Get used to it. Trump will eventually turn on everyone who supports him. He always has. His ego demands it
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Jan 27, 26 @ 12:32 pm:
- Leave it to the ISRA to try and twist what everyone with a working brain, legislators included, are pointing out -
In what way are they twisting it? I’m not fan of the ISRA, but they’re pointing out exactly the hypocrisy you’re talking about.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jan 27, 26 @ 12:44 pm:
Can’t recall anyone in Illinois trying to ban responsible carry of firearms. The issue with many is the sale of deadly assault-style guns that are often used in mass shootings, and very large clips.
“You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want”
Kyle Rittenhouse is the right’s hero. He and others were encouraged or thanked by law enforcement in Kenosha, essentially being deputized according to a video.