Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino has sparked outrage after claiming that a protester who was shot and killed by his agents forfeited their Second Amendment rights due to their actions.
In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Bovino claimed that Alex Pretti, 37, forfeited his constitutional right to bear arms because he was involved in rioting, assaulting, and obstructing law enforcement. Pretti, who was carrying a firearm legally at the time of his death, was shot by agents while on the ground.
Bovino's statement has been met with skepticism, as multiple videos from the scene show Pretti placing himself between an agent and several women he was shoving, before being sprayed with a chemical irritant and repeatedly hit in the head. The Department of Homeland Security had initially described Pretti as a threat to agents' lives, but Bash pressed Bovino for evidence that Pretti intended to harm law enforcement.
Critics have accused Bovino of attempting to justify his agents' actions by claiming Pretti forfeited his constitutional rights. FBI Director Kash Patel echoed this sentiment, stating that protesters do not have the right to carry firearms during demonstrations.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also made an error when he stated that it's not possible to bring a gun to a protest, trampling over the host's assertion that all Americans have the right to bear arms. Instead, Bessent claimed he would bring a billboard to a protest instead of a firearm.
The justification of Pretti's killing by claiming he forfeited his Second Amendment rights has raised concerns about the limits of law enforcement power and the erosion of constitutional protections during times of unrest. The controversy highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in policing, as well as a clear understanding of the laws that govern protests and firearms.
Bovino's assertion has also sparked outrage among gun rights advocates and free speech organizations, who argue that his statement is an attempt to undermine the Second Amendment and silence dissenters during protests. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the complex relationship between law enforcement, protests, and constitutional rights in the United States.
In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Bovino claimed that Alex Pretti, 37, forfeited his constitutional right to bear arms because he was involved in rioting, assaulting, and obstructing law enforcement. Pretti, who was carrying a firearm legally at the time of his death, was shot by agents while on the ground.
Bovino's statement has been met with skepticism, as multiple videos from the scene show Pretti placing himself between an agent and several women he was shoving, before being sprayed with a chemical irritant and repeatedly hit in the head. The Department of Homeland Security had initially described Pretti as a threat to agents' lives, but Bash pressed Bovino for evidence that Pretti intended to harm law enforcement.
Critics have accused Bovino of attempting to justify his agents' actions by claiming Pretti forfeited his constitutional rights. FBI Director Kash Patel echoed this sentiment, stating that protesters do not have the right to carry firearms during demonstrations.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also made an error when he stated that it's not possible to bring a gun to a protest, trampling over the host's assertion that all Americans have the right to bear arms. Instead, Bessent claimed he would bring a billboard to a protest instead of a firearm.
The justification of Pretti's killing by claiming he forfeited his Second Amendment rights has raised concerns about the limits of law enforcement power and the erosion of constitutional protections during times of unrest. The controversy highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in policing, as well as a clear understanding of the laws that govern protests and firearms.
Bovino's assertion has also sparked outrage among gun rights advocates and free speech organizations, who argue that his statement is an attempt to undermine the Second Amendment and silence dissenters during protests. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the complex relationship between law enforcement, protests, and constitutional rights in the United States.
his statement about Alex Pretti forfeiting his 2nd amendment rights is total BS. idk what kinda training they gave him but clearly its not working lol. whats next gonna be police saying you forfeit your right to speech if youre protesting? its a slippery slope and were all paying attention cuz this is getting outta hand 
And can we please get some clarity here? The vids from the scene show Pretti putting himself between an agent and these women, not trying to hurt anyone... it just doesn't add up. I'm getting so tired of cops trying to justify their actions with this kinda 'you forfeited your rights' nonsense. 
It's all about accountability, imo - we need more transparency and less spinning. And can we please, for the love of all things good, not forget that the 2nd amendment is for EVERYONE? 
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, but the police have a duty to protect everyone, not just themselves 
. And what's with all these politicians trying to stomp on free speech and gun rights? It's like they're more concerned about being popular than doing what's right 
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. Maybe we can find a way to make sure everyone feels safe and heard without sacrificing our freedoms 
. But until then, I'll be keeping my eye on this situation 
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. people need 2 stop making excuses for these agents. they got their job 2 do. but still, its a big deal cuz it shows how easily law enforcement can abuse their power. we should b worried about the limits of their power 
the fact that multiple vids show Alex Pretti placin himself btw an agent & women he was shoving before gettin shot just shows how messed up this situation is. Bovino needs to get a grip and stop tryna justify his agents' actions with some BS about constitutional rights 
sounds like a total joke. this whole thing just shows how outta touch law enforcement is when it comes to understanding what's goin on in the streets
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Bovino's excuse is like "I had to shoot him 'cause he was being extra" 
like what even is this?! 
and neither should you! 
I'm so fed up with this explanation by Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino 
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. Can't we just have a straight conversation about how to handle these situations without trying to justify harm? 
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. This is just another example of how law enforcement power can get out of hand when there's a lot of unrest going on.
. It's like Bovino is saying, "Hey, we're gonna shoot you because you're making a scene" 
- Benjamin Franklin
This border patrol commander is literally trying to rewrite the Constitution on the fly 
. And btw, bringing a billboard instead of a firearm to a protest? 
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