{"id":2555673,"date":"2026-01-28T14:17:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rand-paul-minneapolis-shooting-response-flies-in-the-face-of-2a\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T14:19:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:19:50","slug":"rand-paul-minneapolis-shooting-response-flies-in-the-face-of-2a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rand-paul-minneapolis-shooting-response-flies-in-the-face-of-2a\/","title":{"rendered":"Rand Paul: Minneapolis shooting response &#8216;flies in the face&#8217; of 2A"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frand-paul-minneapolis-shooting-response-flies-in-the-face-of-2a%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2555673&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sen. rand Paul (R-Ky.) criticized the Trump management\u2019s response to the Jan. 24 Border Patrol shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, arguing officials\u2019 statements limiting the right to carry firearms at protests \u201cfly in the face\u201d of the Second Amendment. Paul said footage of the encounter suggests Pretti was not assaulting officers and called for clear \u201crules of the game\u201d and an self-reliant, transparent inquiry so the public will accept the outcome. his remarks came as the heads of ICE, CBP, and USCIS are set to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on Feb. 10 and the Senate Homeland Security and governmental Affairs Committee on Feb. 12, and as Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem and others have made statements characterizing the incident. Paul also warned that if recording police is being treated as assault, peopel need to know they could be in danger, and he defended protesters\u2019 rights to carry firearms at rallies.Other republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie, similarly defended gun rights, while some senators have publicly called for Noem\u2019s ouster; Noem is expected to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in March.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Rand Paul: Minneapolis shooting response &lsquo;flies in the face&rsquo; of Second Amendment<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2486879\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/rand-paul\/\">Rand Paul<\/a> (R-KY) said Wednesday his visits to protests and rallies run counter to Trump administration officials&rsquo; claims on carrying firearms.<\/p>\n<p>The heads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and Citizenship and Immigration Services are all set to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4435733\/ice-immigration-directors-testify-house-homeland-security-committee\/\">on Feb. 10<\/a>, and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenRandPaul\/status\/2016244991387894053?s=20\">on Feb. 12<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4436660\/watch-live-jerome-powell-delivers-interest-rate-decision-first-public-event-since-doj-inquiry\/\">WATCH LIVE: Jerome Powell delivers interest rate decision in first public event since DOJ inquiry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4437163\/mamdani-blames-eric-adams-cuomo-12-billion-dollar-budget-deficit\/\">Mamdani blames Eric Adams and Cuomo for $12 billion budget deficit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4436952\/stephen-colbert-discussed-running-office-with-family\/\">Stephen Colbert &#8216;discussed&#8217; running for office with family<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/columnists\/4436752\/trump-administration-misfires-second-amendment\/\"><strong>DAVID HARSANYI: TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MISFIRES ON SECOND AMENDMENT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The testimonies will come about two weeks after the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4436250\/two-federal-officers-fired-shots-alex-pretti\/\">fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents<\/a> on Jan. 24.<\/p>\n<p>After the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggested Pretti <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4432867\/massie-gun-rights-minneapolis-pretti-shooting\/\">committed &ldquo;domestic terrorism,&rdquo;<\/a> while FBI Director Kash Patel said a person &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4434653\/trump-coalition-frays-gun-rights-minnesota-shooting-justification\/\">cannot bring a firearm<\/a>&rdquo; to &ldquo;any sort of protest that you want.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Paul said &ldquo;nobody with any objectivity&rdquo; watching footage of Pretti&rsquo;s altercation believes he was assaulting the officers, adding that &ldquo;the opposite appears to be true.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So we have to get some rules of the game, and we can&rsquo;t have the government justifying this type of behavior because the vast majority of Americans think this was unfair, what happened,&rdquo; Paul said on Fox Business&rsquo;s <em>Mornings with Maria Bartiromo<\/em>, guest-hosted by Cheryl Casone.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Also, the intimation or actually the explicit call to say, &lsquo;You don&rsquo;t have a Second Amendment right to carry arms in a protest,&rsquo; really flies in the face of most of our Second Amendment community.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3347396&amp;userid=11311&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=730e5e340c347d99e9b10e20c03e9791\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;I can tell you I&rsquo;ve been to dozens and dozens of rallies and or protests where people are visibly armed or have concealed carry. So the people who&rsquo;re saying this, we need to get this straight so we can have some kind of awareness, and people who go to protest, that they know what the rules of the game are,&rdquo; Paul said.<\/p>\n<p>Paul also said if <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >recording <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-red-wave-of-conservative-women-elected-to-congress\/\" title=\"The Red Wave of Conservative Women Elected to Congress\">law enforcement<\/a><\/a> during operations counts as &ldquo;assault,&rdquo; then people need to know this and know &ldquo;you could be shot.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;We need a clarification on all of this,&rdquo; but said he would &ldquo;reserve judgment&rdquo; on Noem for the time being.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Paul said he believes the guns in the shooting were &ldquo;prematurely fired&rdquo; when someone shouted, &ldquo;Gun! Gun! Gun!&rdquo; and caused someone to believe the perpetrator was carrying a firearm. He added that this shooting may have been a mistake, but if the Trump administration won&rsquo;t own up to it, people &ldquo;aren&rsquo;t going to accept that.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You want Minnesota to calm down? We have to show that there&rsquo;s a just and independent investigation here,&rdquo; Paul said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4434263\/how-local-businesses-are-helping-anti-ice-activists-obstruct-immigration-enforcement\/\">HOW LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE HELPING ANTI-ICE ACTIVISTS OBSTRUCT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Noem will <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4434373\/kristi-noem-expected-testify-senate-march\/\">testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee<\/a> in March. It comes as several senators, including Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4434981\/fetterman-demands-trump-fire-noem\/\">John Fetterman<\/a> (D-PA), are <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4436223\/thom-tillis-lisa-murkowski-call-kristi-noem-ouster-gop-frustrations-grow\/\">calling for her firing<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) took to X on Sunday to defend the &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4432867\/massie-gun-rights-minneapolis-pretti-shooting\/\">Constitutionally protected God-given right<\/a>&rdquo; to carry a firearm after Pretti&rsquo;s death. He was rebutting a claim that &ldquo;there is a high likelihood&rdquo; law enforcement will be &ldquo;legally justified&rdquo; in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massie-says-carrying-gun-not-death-sentence-after-pretti-shooting\/\" title=\"Massie says ...ing ... not &#039;death ...tence&#039; after Pretti ...\">shooting people approaching<\/a> them with a gun.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rand Paul: Minneapolis shooting response defies 2A<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2555674,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26008640758248-e1769621918685.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50385,62133,38952,39203,32209],"class_list":["post-2555673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-gun-control-2","tag-minneapolis-shooting","tag-rand-paul","tag-republican-politics","tag-second-amendment"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26008640758248-e1769621918685.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2555673"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555673\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2555677,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555673\/revisions\/2555677"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2555674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2555673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2555673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2555673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}