Minnesota’s AG Joined Other Dems To Argue Against Bring Guns to Protests

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is facing renewed scrutiny over his hardline views on firearms and protests as the state reels from the deadly Minneapolis shooting involving a U.S. Border Patrol agent and Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse.

Ellison is set to argue in federal court in an effort to shut down a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota — a move tied to a broader legal pushback against the Department of Homeland Security’s increased presence in the state following the fatal shooting, according to The Daily Caller. The enforcement surge was launched amid escalating unrest and safety concerns surrounding immigration-related protests.

The case has reopened debate over Ellison’s long-standing opposition to firearms at political demonstrations. In prior litigation, Ellison joined 16 other Democratic attorneys general in submitting a brief asserting that states have the authority to restrict firearms at protests and political rallies, arguing such events inherently risk violence.

That position now collides directly with the unfolding situation in Minneapolis, where public safety, immigration enforcement, and Second Amendment protections are colliding in dramatic fashion. Images and video from protests following Pretti’s death show large crowds gathering near the shooting site and across downtown Minneapolis, with several tense encounters between demonstrators and law enforcement.

Both Ellison and his critics have emphasized that investigations and court proceedings remain ongoing, as Minnesota becomes the latest battleground in a national fight over gun rights, protest activity, and federal authority under President Donald J. Trump’s administration.

Gun rights advocates have forcefully rejected Ellison’s reasoning. In a statement, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus described the shooting as “deeply concerning,” while warning against attempts to erode constitutional protections.

“Every peaceable Minnesotan has the right to keep and bear arms—including while attending protests, acting as observers, or exercising their First Amendment rights,” the organization said. “These rights do not disappear when someone is lawfully armed.”

Rob Doar of the Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center echoed that sentiment in comments to Minneapolis-based FOX 9, arguing that constitutional freedoms are not conditional.

“If he had a permit to carry, it’s not unlawful to be carrying while you’re exercising your First Amendment right,” Doar said. “You don’t have to pick between which rights you exercise.”

Democratic leaders in Minnesota, however, are escalating their rhetoric against federal officials following the Jan. 24 shooting. Gov. Tim Walz and other state Democrats have pledged to hold federal authorities accountable, portraying the incident as a consequence of what they describe as aggressive immigration enforcement policies under President Trump.

Walz claimed the state would ultimately prevail over federal authorities.

“I have a strong statement here for our federal government,” Walz said. “Minnesota’s justice system will have the last word on this. It must have the last word.”

At the governor’s request, Minnesota National Guard troops were deployed Saturday to secure both the shooting location and the Whipple Federal Building — a known staging area for immigration authorities that has become a focal point for protesters, according to state officials.

“The Minnesota National Guard’s mission remains the same: preserving life, protecting property, and ensuring Minnesotans can safely exercise their First Amendment rights,” Army Maj. Andrea Tsuchiya said in a statement.

Federal authorities have stated that Pretti, a U.S. citizen and Department of Veterans Affairs ICU nurse, was armed with a handgun during the encounter and allegedly intended to use it against law enforcement. Officials said a struggle occurred before an agent fired the fatal shot.

The case follows another recent deadly incident in Minnesota involving federal officers. Earlier this month, Renee Nicole Good, 37, was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer — a shooting that similarly sparked protests and intensified demands from Democrats for increased oversight of federal law enforcement.

As tensions rise, Minnesota has become a flashpoint in the broader national debate over immigration enforcement, public safety, and whether constitutional rights will be upheld or curtailed during times of unrest.