美国全国步枪协会等机构反驳特朗普政府说辞：抗议者持枪不应成为其被枪杀原因

Core Viewpoint - The incident involving the shooting of Alex Jeffrey Preti by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis has sparked significant controversy, with various groups disputing the government's justification for the use of lethal force, particularly the claim that Preti was armed [1][3]. Group 1: Incident Details - On January 24, 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Preti was shot by federal law enforcement officers, who claimed he was holding a 9mm semi-automatic handgun "near" them, justifying their actions as self-defense [3]. - However, social media videos contradicted this narrative, showing Preti holding a phone instead of a firearm when he was subdued by officers, and that he had a legal permit to carry a gun [3]. Group 2: Government and Law Enforcement Statements - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emphasized Preti's alleged possession of a firearm through multiple social media posts, with DHS Secretary showing a photo of the weapon at a press conference [3]. - FBI Director Kash Patel stated that "no peaceful protester would carry a fully loaded gun to a protest," reinforcing the government's stance on the incident [3]. Group 3: Responses from Gun Rights Organizations - The National Rifle Association (NRA) criticized the statements made by government officials, labeling them as "dangerous and erroneous," and called for a thorough investigation before making judgments about lawful citizens [3]. - The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus demanded a "full and transparent investigation," asserting that there is currently no evidence suggesting Preti intended to harm law enforcement [3][4]. Group 4: Legal Rights and Public Statements - Various gun rights organizations reiterated that every peaceful resident in Minnesota has the right to carry weapons, including during protests, and that these rights must be respected and protected [4].