Liberals Racing to Buy Guns

A deadly federal agent shooting has triggered an unprecedented surge in left-wing gun ownership, revealing a stunning reversal as liberals now rush to arm themselves against the very government overreach conservatives have warned about for decades.

Story Snapshot

Liberal gun groups report explosive membership growth following Alex Pretti’s fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis
Training classes sold out through March as LGBTQ+, women, and minorities seek firearms for protection against federal enforcement
Liberal Gun Club membership doubled from 2,700 to 4,500 members, with training requests quintupling since Trump’s reelection
Political dynamics invert as leftists embrace Second Amendment rights while federal actions spark constitutional concerns

Fatal Shooting Catalyzes Leftist Gun Movement

Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse and licensed gun owner, was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis while lawfully carrying a holstered weapon. Bystander video contradicts initial federal claims that Pretti was brandishing his firearm, with the Department of Homeland Security later omitting this assertion from their review. The shooting occurred amid President Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement operations deploying armed federal agents in Democrat-controlled cities. Pretti’s death resonated deeply within liberal gun communities, with advocates describing him as “one of us” and citing his work caring for veterans at VA hospitals.

Training Demand Overwhelms Liberal Gun Organizations

Pink Pistols Twin Cities expanded from five to twenty-five students per class and added seven new training courses to meet surging demand. The LGBTQ-focused organization operates under the motto “Armed gays don’t get bashed,” reflecting a self-defense philosophy against threats. L.A. Progressive Shooters reports classes completely booked through March. Jordan Levine, founder of A Better Way 2A, notes new groups joining his network including Ready Rainbow Chicago, Grassroots Defense Iowa, and Solidarity Defense Sacramento. These organizations provide firearms training specifically tailored to liberals, women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals who traditionally avoided gun ownership.

Membership Numbers Reveal Dramatic Shift

The Liberal Gun Club’s national membership jumped from 2,700 members to 4,500 following Trump’s 2024 reelection, with training requests increasing fivefold. The National African American Gun Association founder Philip Smith confirms substantial growth, stating people join when they’re scared. A University of Chicago study documented Democrat-leaning gun ownership rising seven percentage points between 2010 and 2022, accelerating after 2020 events including the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd’s murder. David Phillips, who conducts Liberal Gun Club training, reports never witnessing such an enrollment surge in his career. National sales data showing overall declines mask these demographic-specific increases.

Constitutional Concerns Unite Unlikely Advocates

Lara Smith, Liberal Gun Club national spokesperson, declares the Pretti shooting fundamentally changed perspectives on the left regarding armed self-defense. Participants cite motivations to “equalize the power imbalance” against federal agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel. This represents a remarkable inversion of traditional partisan positions on gun rights, with conservatives historically warning about government tyranny while liberals advocated restrictions. Matt Lacombe, author of Firepower, observes that arming against perceived threats is no longer solely conservative territory. Armed community patrols have emerged in St. Paul neighborhoods, with social media showing leftist gun owners invoking revolutionary imagery while defending their communities.

Political Ramifications and Future Impact

One activist stated the current situation will absolutely impact voting behavior, suggesting potential realignment on Second Amendment issues. The National Association for Gun Rights acknowledges liberal firearms training has become common knowledge within the industry. Wake Forest sociology professor David Yamane notes 2020-2021 events drove disproportionate increases among Black and female gun buyers, a trend intensifying under current federal enforcement policies. This broader embrace of gun rights among traditionally anti-gun demographics challenges conventional partisan narratives and may erode support for restrictive legislation. The phenomenon exposes how federal overreach, regardless of partisan justification, threatens constitutional liberties that transcend political affiliation when citizens feel genuinely endangered.