Kash Patel Clarifies Position on Gun Rights After Backlash

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Jan 27, 2026 at 06:57 AM EST updated Jan 27, 2026 at 06:58 AM EST


Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel said the bureau "fully" supports the Second Amendment but urged armed Americans to avoid bringing loaded weapons to volatile protests, after gun-rights groups accused the administration of blaming a lawful gun owner killed by a federal officer in Minneapolis.

"We truly, fully support the Second Amendment—people's right to bear arms," he said, adding that in situations like the current unrest in Minnesota "we have to ask people what's prudential, what's smart." "And it's not smart to go out there with a fully loaded weapon," Patel told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. "We're just saying be careful and be reasonable."

It comes after several gun rights groups criticized his previous comments following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti—a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry—by a federal agent, at a protest in Minneapolis on Saturday. Newsweek has contacted the FBI, via email outside of normal working hours, for comment on Patel’s behalf.

Why it Matters

The scrutiny over Patel’s remarks highlight how the Second Amendment’s protection of gun ownership has emerged as a key issue in the shooting of Pretti. Trump’s administration has often stood by gun rights groups’ defense of the right to openly carry firearms in public. But gun rights groups, including the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), have said that Patel’s rhetoric around guns amid the shooting "sets a dangerous precedent for Second Amendment rights."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/kash-patel-gun-rights-backlash-second-amendment-pretti-11421751

[Ray Bruns]

1. And all it took was for government agents killing a white man legally carrying a gun.

[underpants]

2. A. That's not full 2A dogma. B. Hannity's so stupid he doesn't realize he could be taking about the ICE goons

Hannity told Patel he was pro-Second Amendment, "but with that comes a big responsibility."

He added: "If I knew I was on camera and I could get away from a confrontation knowing that I had the ability to defend myself, I would turn and hightail it and run rather than ever have to pull out a weapon.

"If you have a weapon do you belong in an environment that is contentious as this weekend, do you bear responsibility knowing that you have a firearm with you?"

[Moostache]

4. Sean Hannity?

1) Fuck that guy.
2) Bundy?
3) Rittenhouse?

For #2 and #3 Sean, your worthless cunt ass was glazing their balls for all you could suck when those fucker were ACTUALLY brandishing weapons on camera.

For the rest of time though, fuck you Sean. You are disgusting and you harm the nation as a whole with your bullshit and hypocrisy.

[ruet]

3. It Doesn't Sound Any Different From What He Was Saying Over The Weekend.

Clear as mud.

[Moostache]

5. IOOIYAR

Its ONLY OK if you are a Republican.

Otherwise, you die.

[SeattleVet]

6. See also: search for images of "Bundy Bunkerville Standoff"

Pointing weapons at the feds without consequences, as long as you are a 'conservative'.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DT_PKV1EqaB/?img_index=1

(You can step through the 9 captioned images using the right pointing arrow at the edge of the image.)

[SergeStorms]

7. Up yours.....

you sawed-off little creep. Not a peep out of your smarmy little mouth when right-wing gun-nuts do it, but.when someone on the left carries protection from your fascist thugs you want them to leave that protection home?

You helped create this situation, you mewling, slimy sycophant. FUCK YOU!

[Old Crank]

8. Situation made volatile by government thugs.

I thought an armed society was a polite society.

They all wanted guns every where. Went to court to try to get guns every where.
Now they don't want guns every where but it is a little late.