Amid backlash over the fatal shooting of licensed gun owner Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, numerous Trump officials blamed Pretti for legally carrying a handgun to the scene. When asked about the shooting of Pretti, President Trump said “You can’t have guns. You can’t walk in with guns,” a statement which sparked outrage among Second Amendment rights advocates.
President Trump’s U.S. Attorney of the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, also addressed the topic on Fox News and warned potential protestors of DC’s strict gun laws on Fox News.
Gun Owners of America amplified the video below in which Pirro threatened anyone brining a firearm to Washington: “[If] you bring a gun into the District, you mark my words, you’re going to jail. I don’t care if you have a license in another district and I don’t care if you’re a law abiding law-abiding gun owner somewhere else. You bring a gun into this District, count on going to jail, and hope you get the gun back!”
I bring a gun into the district every week, @USAttyPirro. I have a license in Florida and DC to carry. And I will continue to carry to protect myself and others.
Come and Take it! https://t.co/GThPY2I8HO
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) February 3, 2026
In the comments, Second Amendment rights advocates slammed Pirro and her clear advocacy of gun restrictions. Comments included “So much for the Constitution” and “you are stripping peaceful citizens from their protection. Not cool. Very, very disappointing.”
Another took aim directly at Pirro, a former TV star, questioning her qualifications in the wake of her pronouncement. “So much for the 2A and gun owners in the district,” one respondent wrote. “Can we stop hiring FNC pseudo-celebrities for important positions that require an understanding of our constitution?”
MAGA-aligned U.S. Congressman Greg Steube (R-FL) also responded to Pirro by writing: “I bring a gun into the district every week, @USAttyPirro. I have a license in Florida and DC to carry. And I will continue to carry to protect myself and others. Come and Take it!”
[Note: The video clip and post do not explicitly mention that DC gun laws do not recognize out-of-state licenses and require local permits.]
Some Second Amendment advocates tried to defend Pirro’s statement with comments including “If you have a DC carry permit, this wasn’t really referring to you.” Another wrote: “They aren’t referring to their own, they are referring to regular citizens with second class 2A rights.”
One commenter gave Pirro a very qualified pass, writing: “If I am offering her the benefit of the doubt, based on the context of everything she said, it seems she’s talking specifically about those who come to disrupt federal proceedings while carrying a firearm, not ANY law abiding gun owner. However… She better clarify, because if I am wrong, I want to make sure I promptly give her a star-spangled middle finger.”