The National Rifle Association (NRA) has joined other US gun lobby groups in calling for a full investigation by the Trump administration into the killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota.
Comments from the NRA come after a border agent fatally shot Pretti - a registered nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital - in Minneapolis on Saturday.
State and federal officials have given starkly different accounts. The Trump administration claimed Pretti carried a gun and posed a danger, but no video evidence has surfaced to support the claim.
The NRA condemned a federal prosecutor's suggestion that those carrying guns risk being shot, labeling it dangerous and wrong.
Responsible public voices should await a full investigation rather than making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens, the NRA stated.
These comments followed remarks from Bill Essayli, First Assistant US Attorney for the Central District of California, advising against approaching law enforcement with a firearm, warning it often leads to legal justification for officers shooting the individual.
In their response, the NRA emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the shooting incident, where the circumstances and facts need clarity before further judgments are made.
Gun Owners of America also echoed the need to uphold Second Amendment rights during protests, criticizing any infringement by the federal government.
The event marks the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis this month in relation to ICE operations, leading to public outcry and protests against federal enforcement tactics.
Conflicting narratives persisted, with the Department for Homeland Security asserting Pretti was a threat while Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey rejected the official explanation as nonsense. Eyewitness videos have surfaced but tempered interpretations, further complicating the official narrative.
