Minnesota AG Previously Argued Against Being Armed at Protests

January 26, 2026
10:36 am

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Imagine this: the top law enforcement official in Minnesota, Attorney General Keith Ellison, once argued vehemently against allowing armed citizens at protests, claiming it creates unnecessary risks and escalates tensions. Fast-forward to the tragic shooting of pro-2A advocate Alex Pretti during a chaotic demonstration, and suddenly Ellison's stance is under the microscope. As reported, the AG's prior legal briefs and public statements pushed for restrictions on open carry at rallies, framing firearms as a threat to public safety rather than a fundamental right. This isn't just irony—it's a stark reminder of how anti-2A rhetoric from the left often prioritizes control over self-defense, especially when real-world violence erupts and the state can't protect everyone. Context matters here. Ellison's position echoes a broader pattern among progressive DAs and AGs who've lobbied to disarm law-abiding protesters while riots like those in 2020 burned cities unchecked—remember the Kenosha unrest where armed citizens stepped up when police were overwhelmed? Pretti's death highlights the hypocrisy: if good guys with guns are demonized, we're left relying on slow-responding authorities or, worse, unhinged attackers. Data from the Crime Prevention Research Center shows permit holders are exponentially less likely to commit crimes than police, yet figures like Ellison treat them as the problem. This Minnesota saga isn't isolated; it's a microcosm of the gun-grabbers' playbook, where public safety means stripping rights from those who need them most. For the 2A community, the implications are crystal clear: double down on vigilance. Ellison's flip-flop potential post-shooting could fuel lawsuits challenging protest carry bans, bolstering cases like those testing sensitive places doctrines post-Bruen. Patriots, use this as ammo—share the story, call out the contradiction, and remind voters that disarming citizens at protests doesn't prevent violence; it invites it. Stay strapped, stay informed, and keep fighting for the right that keeps us free.

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Context matters here. Ellison’s position echoes a broader pattern among progressive DAs and AGs who’ve lobbied to disarm law-abiding protesters while riots like those in 2020 burned cities unchecked—remember the Kenosha unrest where armed citizens stepped up when police were overwhelmed? Pretti’s death highlights the hypocrisy: if good guys with guns are demonized, we’re left relying on slow-responding authorities or, worse, unhinged attackers. Data from the Crime Prevention Research Center shows permit holders are exponentially less likely to commit crimes than police, yet figures like Ellison treat them as the problem. This Minnesota saga isn’t isolated; it’s a microcosm of the gun-grabbers’ playbook, where public safety means stripping rights from those who need them most.

For the 2A community, the implications are crystal clear: double down on vigilance. Ellison’s flip-flop potential post-shooting could fuel lawsuits challenging protest carry bans, bolstering cases like those testing sensitive places doctrines post-Bruen. Patriots, use this as ammo—share the story, call out the contradiction, and remind voters that disarming citizens at protests doesn’t prevent violence; it invites it. Stay strapped, stay informed, and keep fighting for the right that keeps us free.

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