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MayReasonRule

(4,034 posts)
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 10:48 AM 21 hrs ago

"You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple."

"You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple."

Mrs. Betty Bowers (@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T15:42:09.280Z
72 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple." (Original Post) MayReasonRule 21 hrs ago OP
Meal Team 6 OC375 21 hrs ago #1
"yeah, but that stellar citizen was on OUR side" Whyisthisstillclose 21 hrs ago #2
I'm going to wait for the NRA's statement defending Pretti's unequivocal 2A rights. CincyDem 21 hrs ago #3
There have been some remarks: milestogo 20 hrs ago #7
Of course he's an (R) or an avowed hypocrite. enigmania 11 hrs ago #67
Here Ya' Go... MayReasonRule 20 hrs ago #15
Fuck the NRA COL Mustard 20 hrs ago #22
NRA talking out of both sides of its mouth 70sEraVet 19 hrs ago #36
Growing up in farm country Klondike Kat 19 hrs ago #42
Let us not forget popsdenver 9 hrs ago #71
LIARS! GiqueCee 18 hrs ago #47
I grew up collecting medals from the NRA for my marksmamship MadameButterfly 18 hrs ago #53
NRA even know they disarmed him before murdering him? Emile 18 hrs ago #49
victim perceived as a liberal Skittles 13 hrs ago #62
The NRA is a criminal organization lonely bird 14 hrs ago #59
Any statement with the word "Robust" in it is immediately disqualified. NBachers 13 hrs ago #63
I hope you're not holding your breath.... COL Mustard 20 hrs ago #20
Did ICe Killers scan Alex's face and already know all about him? delisen 20 hrs ago #4
Excellent questions. How did the one agent know to look for the gun? Why did he immediately Gaugamela 20 hrs ago #16
Negligent discharge of a weapon Blue Full Moon 20 hrs ago #21
What? Eleven times? Gaugamela 19 hrs ago #29
You're assuming they're that organized and that intelligent. Chances lean strongly towards no. paleotn 20 hrs ago #23
This regime is hoping and praying that some useful idiot Ferryboat 20 hrs ago #5
I agree don't give them reasons to escalate thinkingagain 20 hrs ago #13
The only thing they can stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a camera Seinan Sensei 19 hrs ago #33
Yeah...but it takes nothing to "escalate" those fuckers. Look cross eyed at them and they Bengus81 19 hrs ago #40
Agreed thinkingagain 18 hrs ago #54
Yes, I've seen that argument on Bluesky - they have their Palantir database TBF 20 hrs ago #17
Historically, Strategic Surreptitious Strike Strategies Play A Major Role Against Overwhelming Force MayReasonRule 20 hrs ago #18
Love Matt Berry. nt Maru Kitteh 18 hrs ago #46
The discipline you describe is not possible. hay rick 20 hrs ago #19
They are going to do it regardless Blue Full Moon 20 hrs ago #24
And fail in their mission. It's is and always will be about public perception. paleotn 19 hrs ago #32
They don't care about public perception. Blue Full Moon 19 hrs ago #34
That is where you're wrong. They do. They have to. paleotn 19 hrs ago #38
Agree that they don't care about public perception and Dems? AllyCat 19 hrs ago #37
Then why is Donnie so in a twist about opinion polls? paleotn 19 hrs ago #39
And yet, 7 democrats just handed ICE thugs another $10B AllyCat 19 hrs ago #43
Seen what's happened in the Senate on that legislation? paleotn 19 hrs ago #44
I've seen their overall actions so far. AllyCat 16 hrs ago #56
And it's a miracle no one has. paleotn 19 hrs ago #26
Leave the guns at home. Full stop. COL Mustard 19 hrs ago #27
Then they'll claim that a protester being ONLY twenty five feet away was impeding an arrest Bengus81 19 hrs ago #41
The pigs fire all kinds of shit at protesters that aren't doing a goddamn thing. Klarkashton 18 hrs ago #52
Yes, knowing what we know, never bring a gun or anything else to throw at them Beringia 13 hrs ago #64
Don't RW nutriders open carry at their demonstrations? They truly are schizophrenic (in the split-mind sense) not an artemisia1 20 hrs ago #6
Ruby Ridge Emile 20 hrs ago #8
What's really bad, they disarmed him before murdering him. Emile 20 hrs ago #9
That makes what they did premeditated. Kid Berwyn 20 hrs ago #11
+1. It was murder. dalton99a 20 hrs ago #14
An execution Seinan Sensei 19 hrs ago #28
Need to be extra cautious RoseTrellis 20 hrs ago #12
Police then escorted that killer to safety across state lines. Kid Berwyn 20 hrs ago #10
How soon the fools forget... WokeAintWhatIAm 19 hrs ago #25
The assholes have been convincing us for 4 decades now that 2A is absolute. Initech 19 hrs ago #30
Michigan in April 2020 y'all WokeAintWhatIAm 19 hrs ago #31
Exactly. These mask-wearing imbeciles were protesting Covid-19 mask mandates and shutdowns. sop 19 hrs ago #35
A little rain and their Levis will chafe and wear them down. BidenRocks 18 hrs ago #45
The MAGA Covid-19 goons look just like today's ICE goons. sop 18 hrs ago #48
Dear Goddess, I remember that image! niyad 12 hrs ago #66
There was no protest. There were people outside in an area mzmolly 18 hrs ago #50
Thank you. They tried to establish that yesterday and of course the media went right along. underpants 18 hrs ago #51
Wilhoit's Law usonian 18 hrs ago #55
US Capitol attack insurrectionists had weapons, including firearms CNYHarris 16 hrs ago #57
Many of our "freedoms" are merely illusions dlk 15 hrs ago #58
From the hill top.... FormerOstrich 14 hrs ago #60
This is not a good comparison. gulliver 13 hrs ago #61
It's still within the 7 yr federal statute of limitations to charge him ChicagoTeamster 12 hrs ago #65
Apparently the moron MISSED the protest inside the Michigan Capital Building in 2020, Jack Valentino 11 hrs ago #68
These fucking scumbags cheer on murderers and psychopaths every time. Initech 11 hrs ago #69
The NRA has only ever given a shit about right-wing Republican gun rights. hadEnuf 11 hrs ago #70
The Republican double standard is too obvious to ignore. Legally armed Democrats will be killed. Martin68 8 hrs ago #72

OC375

(507 posts)
1. Meal Team 6
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 10:51 AM
21 hrs ago

Wait till they show up in MN, get beaten, and then more show up, etc… Going to be a hot spring.

2. "yeah, but that stellar citizen was on OUR side"
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 10:51 AM
21 hrs ago

The stupidity burns almost as much as the hypocrisy.

CincyDem

(7,328 posts)
3. I'm going to wait for the NRA's statement defending Pretti's unequivocal 2A rights.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 10:54 AM
21 hrs ago

Waiting…

Waiting…

Waiting…

Waiting…

milestogo

(22,748 posts)
7. There have been some remarks:
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:09 AM
20 hrs ago

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, a top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, posted on social media that if a person approaches law enforcement with a gun, there’s a good change that officer will be justified in shooting that person.

The NRA reacted to the prosecutor’s comments, calling them dangerous and wrong. The gun rights group said prosecutors should not demonize law-abiding citizens and should wait until a full investigation is complete.

https://www.fox10tv.com/2026/01/25/nra-slams-federal-prosecutors-post-about-minneapolis-shooting-dangerous-wrong/

COL Mustard

(8,039 posts)
22. Fuck the NRA
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:56 AM
20 hrs ago

Damn them to Hell, along with all their guns & ammo. Let them shoot the Hell out of Hell all they want.

70sEraVet

(5,310 posts)
36. NRA talking out of both sides of its mouth
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:11 PM
19 hrs ago

From "....politicians like Tim Walz has incited violence...", to "we urge the political voices to lower the temperature..."

Urging the lowering of temperatures while pouring the gasoline.

Screw them. They have been making their money by scaring white people with the prophecy of a race war.

Klondike Kat

(927 posts)
42. Growing up in farm country
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:50 PM
19 hrs ago

I've seen loads of manure, but nothing like the load that the NRA just shoveled.

popsdenver

(1,730 posts)
71. Let us not forget
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 10:55 PM
9 hrs ago

that in the 2016 Election, the NRA was instrumental in treasonously laundering Tens of Millions from Russian Oligarchs/Putin into "campaign donations" for Republican Candidates across the nation.........

GiqueCee

(3,513 posts)
47. LIARS!
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 01:04 PM
18 hrs ago

Tim Walz's toenail clippings are better than any of you lying rancid scumbags. Decades ago, I was a member of the NRA, back when it was a responsible sportsmen's association that promoted firearms safety. Then Wayne LaPierre happened, and I cancelled my membership. Now I wouldn't cross the street to piss in your face if you were on fire.

delisen

(7,267 posts)
4. Did ICe Killers scan Alex's face and already know all about him?
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 10:59 AM
20 hrs ago

Would they have known he had a legal concealed carry permit and that he was also not a threat.?

Gaugamela

(3,327 posts)
16. Excellent questions. How did the one agent know to look for the gun? Why did he immediately
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:42 AM
20 hrs ago

run clear of the scuffle as soon as he had it? Why does he look around to see who might be watching instead of turning toward the gunfire, which he seems to be expecting? Why do the others start firing the moment the gun is seized?

paleotn

(21,741 posts)
23. You're assuming they're that organized and that intelligent. Chances lean strongly towards no.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:56 AM
20 hrs ago

Ferryboat

(1,237 posts)
5. This regime is hoping and praying that some useful idiot
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:05 AM
20 hrs ago

Last edited Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:14 PM - Edit history (1)

gives them what they need to escalate.
We need to have discipline, do not give them what need.

No visible firearms if you feel the need to carry. Bad idea, don't do it. I understand the desire, myself I'm a strong proponent of the 2A. But it is a really bad idea.

Throw no bricks, only insults and snowballs. I like the idea of water balloons.

Document any encounter, gather the receipts. Useful to counter the 'official narrative'.

Any other suggestions?

thinkingagain

(1,317 posts)
13. I agree don't give them reasons to escalate
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:30 AM
20 hrs ago

That being said this guy did not, other than trying to help others.
If he had a gun it was concealed. Never once displayed.
Water balloons - with dye mark the vests with color.
Before you go out make a statement of your intent.
That could get posted if something happens to you.
( arrested, detained or worse)
Statement such as
“I am a peaceful law abiding citizen, I am exercising my amendment rights to participate in a peaceful protest.
I have no plans to cause any problems,
I will possibly film and record what is going on around me. “
I am sure it could be worded better.

Bengus81

(9,907 posts)
40. Yeah...but it takes nothing to "escalate" those fuckers. Look cross eyed at them and they
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:31 PM
19 hrs ago

spray chemicals in your face. This shit is straight out of the Viet Nam protests on how to gin up peaceful protesters into a riot.

thinkingagain

(1,317 posts)
54. Agreed
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 01:45 PM
18 hrs ago

Best we can do is continue to be as peaceful as we possibly can
And believe our own eyes and ears

TBF

(35,869 posts)
17. Yes, I've seen that argument on Bluesky - they have their Palantir database
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:45 AM
20 hrs ago

it absolutely could've been a "hit" so to speak.

MayReasonRule

(4,034 posts)
18. Historically, Strategic Surreptitious Strike Strategies Play A Major Role Against Overwhelming Force
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:52 AM
20 hrs ago




What we do in the shadows is at least as what we do in the streets.

hay rick

(9,418 posts)
19. The discipline you describe is not possible.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:54 AM
20 hrs ago

I assume there will be incidents, probably multiple incidents- sooner rather than later.

My belief about these murders:
The important part is getting away with them and getting some people to accept and repeat the lies of justification. Those who do not buy the lies will see that there is no legal recourse and either get discouraged or get radicalized. What would a third ICE murder in Minneapolis or Maine this week look like? Would the outrage be diminished?

If there is a retaliatory murder in the near future, troops may or may not be sent in. If they are not sent in the administration will call it a demonstration of restraint- but the murders will continue. I think they don't want to send troops in at this time because they are not really ready and they want to do something closer to the November elections. Interfering with those elections is surely the administration's most important tactical objective this year.

paleotn

(21,741 posts)
32. And fail in their mission. It's is and always will be about public perception.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:02 PM
19 hrs ago

They're losing that battle badly. Particularly with this latest incident. In fact, it gives Dems the political heft and cover to strip ICEhole funding from the new appropriations bill OR shut down the government. Who's responsible for shutting down the government you may ask? Well, the regime loaded it with extra funding for a group that's murdering US citizens on the street. We ain't voting for that!! See how that plays? Not to good for Donnie Dumbass and his band of goons.

paleotn

(21,741 posts)
38. That is where you're wrong. They do. They have to.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:28 PM
19 hrs ago

That's what makes governments work in the west. To a great degree everywhere. Even Putin worries about his perception among the Russian populace. But that's particularly true in a nation with no history thus no genetic memory of authoritarianism.

The only thing holding this regime in power is R's perception that Trump controls their base of voters and they can't win primaries without that. When they discover they can push back hard on Trump and still win, or that not doing so means they lose the general, Trump is doomed. That calculus is based on how many "bridges too far" this regime is taking. Quite a few of late. Even THINKING about actually canceling 2026 elections and it's game over. They'll impeach and convict his ass with votes to spare.

One of several reasons he dropped the whole Greenland thing when some here thought invasion was a done deal. There are limits and much of that is based on the perceptions of the people.

AllyCat

(18,602 posts)
37. Agree that they don't care about public perception and Dems?
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:14 PM
19 hrs ago

That old saying: Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

paleotn

(21,741 posts)
39. Then why is Donnie so in a twist about opinion polls?
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:29 PM
19 hrs ago
You give these people far more power than they actually have. That's defeatist. Stop it.

AllyCat

(18,602 posts)
43. And yet, 7 democrats just handed ICE thugs another $10B
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:50 PM
19 hrs ago

To keep killing and abducting people.

That’s pretty damn defeatist.

paleotn

(21,741 posts)
44. Seen what's happened in the Senate on that legislation?
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:55 PM
19 hrs ago

And I'm not talking about Dem congress critters. I'm talking about your statement. Don't run for cover.

AllyCat

(18,602 posts)
56. I've seen their overall actions so far.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 03:15 PM
16 hrs ago

Congress is not coming to save us.

Have a nice day.

paleotn

(21,741 posts)
26. And it's a miracle no one has.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:58 AM
19 hrs ago

I get white hot with anger but cooler heads like yours must prevail.

COL Mustard

(8,039 posts)
27. Leave the guns at home. Full stop.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:58 AM
19 hrs ago

Don't throw ANYTHING. Evan a water balloon, or an egg, or a rotten tomato can be considered assault.

Do all the peaceful protesting you want, but for Pete's sake, stay nonviolent even in the face of their aggression.

Bengus81

(9,907 posts)
41. Then they'll claim that a protester being ONLY twenty five feet away was impeding an arrest
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:34 PM
19 hrs ago

There will always be a reason to keep the shit flying--just like Trump has ORDERED them to do.

Klarkashton

(4,909 posts)
52. The pigs fire all kinds of shit at protesters that aren't doing a goddamn thing.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 01:28 PM
18 hrs ago

A judge told them to stop it in Minnesota and the bastards appealed it.

It makes no difference if you are peaceful or not.

artemisia1

(1,530 posts)
6. Don't RW nutriders open carry at their demonstrations? They truly are schizophrenic (in the split-mind sense) not an
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:09 AM
20 hrs ago

attack on those with the actual illness. RW'ers schizophrenia is one of character.

Kid Berwyn

(23,393 posts)
11. That makes what they did premeditated.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:25 AM
20 hrs ago

They had no reason to shoot anyone yesterday. The federal government of the United States turned their murder of a legally armed protester into an opportunity for NAZI Gnome to say brave ICE were only protecting themselves from an armed man who attacked them.

That is NAZI.

RoseTrellis

(124 posts)
12. Need to be extra cautious
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:29 AM
20 hrs ago

If you choose to carry at these protests, which is your right, you really need to be extra cautious to not present yourself as a threat to LE. Really no different than informing the cops responsibly if you get pulled over.
Don’t give them an excuse to execute them - resisting arrest can be fatal

Kid Berwyn

(23,393 posts)
10. Police then escorted that killer to safety across state lines.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:19 AM
20 hrs ago

Who knows what today would be like had the little NAZI murderer and his enablers been held to account.

WokeAintWhatIAm

(34 posts)
25. How soon the fools forget...
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:58 AM
19 hrs ago
https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-michigan-gretchen-whitmer-gun-politics-8aff3b8db0c03a80946e054d602f70fe

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Among the armed protesters who rallied at the Michigan Capitol against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus lockdown this past spring were some of the men now accused in stunning plots to kidnap her, storm the Capitol and start a “civil war.”

October 10, 2020

Initech

(107,769 posts)
30. The assholes have been convincing us for 4 decades now that 2A is absolute.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:01 PM
19 hrs ago

Now they're telling us that it comes with an asterisk if you use it against the most tyrannical government in US history? They can go fuck all of the way off.

sop

(17,732 posts)
35. Exactly. These mask-wearing imbeciles were protesting Covid-19 mask mandates and shutdowns.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 12:10 PM
19 hrs ago

BidenRocks

(2,884 posts)
45. A little rain and their Levis will chafe and wear them down.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 01:00 PM
18 hrs ago

I noticed they are all so fucking brave while standing before street clothes wearing soft targets.

Take on ICE big talk! Or stfu!

mzmolly

(52,693 posts)
50. There was no protest. There were people outside in an area
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 01:09 PM
18 hrs ago

that has multiple restaurants and other eateries.

I hate this admin.

underpants

(195,305 posts)
51. Thank you. They tried to establish that yesterday and of course the media went right along.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 01:26 PM
18 hrs ago

usonian

(23,836 posts)
55. Wilhoit's Law
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 01:52 PM
18 hrs ago

Frank Wilhoit: “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” This seems increasingly true.

dlk

(13,148 posts)
58. Many of our "freedoms" are merely illusions
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 04:40 PM
15 hrs ago

The execution of Alex Pretty was a traumatic reminder.

FormerOstrich

(2,874 posts)
60. From the hill top....
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 05:45 PM
14 hrs ago

They are trying to take your GUNS away. They are trying to take away your right to carry.

Again....loudly. And Again, louder.

you get the picture I'm sure....messaging baby....messaging

gulliver

(13,764 posts)
61. This is not a good comparison.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 06:06 PM
13 hrs ago

I realize it is intended to highlight hypocrisy, but, as I've said before, in these times, hypocrisy means absolutely nothing. Relying on people feeling "shamed" when they are called out as hypocrites, no matter how legitimately, is futile. That kind of foul call only works at lower social temperatures than we're in.

The Rittenhouse comparison is apt, but I don't see how that puts Pretti in a good light. Personally, I think they're both irresponsible idiots, Rittenhouse being the bigger idiot of the two. Rittenhouse displayed his gun, and that provoked the end result. Unacceptable as it was for Pretti to be carrying a concealed weapon at a peaceful protest, legally or not, he didn't display it.

My read of what happened is that Pretti's decision to carry the weapon made him very vulnerable to random misfortune in a situation where random misfortune (due to the inherent chaos of reality) was more likely to occur. He's far less culpable than Rittenhouse.

Jack Valentino

(4,527 posts)
68. Apparently the moron MISSED the protest inside the Michigan Capital Building in 2020,
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 08:03 PM
11 hrs ago

when gun-toting open-carrying anti-vaxxers basically took over the building----

but luckily no one was shot, and the Capital Police didn't interpret this
as an opportunity to "take someone down".....

oh wait, he said you can't take loaded guns to 'ANY sort of protest that you want'----

clearly they mean that you can take loaded guns to RIGHT-wing protests,
but NOT to left-wing or DECENT-wing protests!!!!!!

Got it.

Initech

(107,769 posts)
69. These fucking scumbags cheer on murderers and psychopaths every time.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 08:06 PM
11 hrs ago

Hell, they decided that a classroom full of murdered children was just an excuse to take away guns.

hadEnuf

(3,549 posts)
70. The NRA has only ever given a shit about right-wing Republican gun rights.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 08:46 PM
11 hrs ago

All American's gun rights? No way.

You may also notice that the Republicans & MAGAs constantly refer to Democrats or others who do not support their Reich as "un-American" this and "un-American" that. Always "un-American".

So why would the NRA protect gun rights for people who are not "Americans"?

See where this is going?














'










'

Martin68

(27,192 posts)
72. The Republican double standard is too obvious to ignore. Legally armed Democrats will be killed.
Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:38 PM
8 hrs ago
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