Monday, January 26, 2026

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Conservatives, liberals shift gun rights arguments after shooting

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/01/25/alex-pretti-gun-debate-second-amendment/

The killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis has scrambled America’s gun debate, another reflection of the bitterness and polarization that have engulfed the dispute over the national crackdown on immigration by federal agents.

With Americans split between those supporting the Trump administration and those backing anti-ICE protesters, multiple conservatives — including those strongly supportive of gun rights in the past — have justified Pretti’s shooting on the grounds that his carrying of a holstered gun showed he had violent intentions.

Those positions are at odds with the usual stance of many gun rights supporters, who often defend the rights of Americans to carry firearms in almost all situations.

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NRA Makes Rare Statement Against Trump Admin Over Alex Pretti Shooting

 https://www.newsweek.com/nra-makes-rare-statement-against-trump-admin-over-alex-pretti-shooting-11321317

The National Rifle Association (NRA) criticized comments by a senior federal prosecutor warning that approaching law enforcement with a gun could justify a fatal police response, saying such statements risk "demonizing law‑abiding citizens" as the nation reels from the killing of a man in Minneapolis by a U.S. border agent.

The NRA was responding to remarks by Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, who said that "if you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you," adding, "Don’t do it." In a statement, the gun‑rights group called that view "dangerous and wrong," urging public officials to refrain from broad generalizations and to wait for the outcome of a full investigation into Alex Pretti’s death.

"Furthermore, we condemn the untoward comments of Bill Essayli. Federal agents are not ‘highly likely’ to be ‘legally justified’ in ‘shooting’ concealed carry licensees who approach while lawfully carrying a firearm. The Second Amendment protects Americans' right to bear arms while protesting—a right the federal government must not infringe upon.

The biggest myth about White Christian nationalism

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Assisted-Suicide Chapter Amendments coming to a vote in Albany this week, by Wed

 BS"D

January 26, '26

Re: Assisted Suicide Chapter Amendments coming to vote in Albany this week, by Wed.

Ari David, and To Whom Else It May Concern,

The Assisted-Suicide "Chapter Amendments" sought by Gov. Hochul, S8835/A9515, are expected to be voted on in Albany this week, by Wednesday, at which point the legislature is expected to adjourn for the week.

On December 17, the Governor announced that she would sign the assisted suicide bill A136/S136, passed by the legislature on June 9, '25, only provided that the legislature would shortly pass her additional guardrails, ensconced in S8835/A9515, which is the product of her negotiations with bill sponsors.

The NY Legislature has one month to pass her Amendments, from when the initial bill was delivered to her desk, at the very end of December '25. Otherwise, the bill dies.

Many opponents of Assisted Suicide legislation have been opposing these Chapter Amendments as well, as serving to enable the signing of the initial bill passed in June by the governor, A136/ S138.

Some opponents have also voiced objections to the legislation - even according to the stated, secular "pro-Choice" position espoused by proponents - citing many and serious remaining loopholes, and the pronounced absence of a non-severability provision, as evidence that this type of legislation will invariably result in the termination of many people who either do not truly wish to die, or who are not capable of making such a decision.

Given the ease by which the ideological inconsistency of Ending-of-Life proponents can be highlighted, conservative and even Prolife reaction has been underwhelming. It seems like many conservatives prefer to focus on battles they think they can win, rather than ensure that they win battles that we cannot afford to lose.

Thankfully, there has been some significant opposition surfacing within Orthodox Jewish quarters, where opposition is pervasive (see for example the broad based Rabbinic Statement posted here: https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2025/05/psak-halacha.html, and the OU statement: 
https://links.mkt3536.com/servlet/MailView?ms=MzU5MDg4MDES1&r=MjM4MTI2NDI0ODIS1&j=MjkwMzAwMDg3MgS2&mt=1&rt=0.).

This includes coverage by some influential media outlets, including HaModia, The MonseyMevaser.com, the NJ Jewish Link, BeLaaz.com, VIN News, and Israel National News/ Arutz Sheva (a link to which I've sent previously). (More details available on request.)

The blatantly antireligious element of this legislation is highlighted here: https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2026/01/open-letter-vs-assisted-suicide-in-ny.html

Thank you for your attention to this far-reaching legislative matter, impacting all New Yorkers, and many others, especially inasmuch as NY is considered the medical education and training capital of the world.

Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,

Executive Director,

Help Rescue Our Children

845.642.1679

Direct: 771.215.8892

Israeli Helpline: 03.721.3337

torahjewsfordecency@gmail.com

Tomim Tih'yeh [countering "New-Age" infiltration]: 

Tomim1679@gmail.com

Presentations on New-Age dangers: 605-313-6831 ext. 2

Heard weekly on New Jersey's WSNR Radio 620AM, co-hosting the renowned Levin At Eleven program, every Thursday evening, 11pm to midnight (ET).

The unjust killing of Alex Pretti marks a turning point in Trump’s second term

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/01/25/minneapolis-immigration-killing-government-shutdown-ice-alex-pretti/

The unjust killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse in Minneapolis, marks a turning point in President Donald Trump’s second term. His mass deportation campaign has been a moral and political failure, leaving American citizens feeling outraged and unsafe.

The outrageous refusal by the feds to allow local authorities to properly secure the crime scene or gather evidence further inflames tensions with state and city police. The lack of accountability for federal officers has undermined the administration’s claims that this is about law and order. The local population clearly wants the roughly 3,000 immigration officers now deployed around the Twin Cities to leave.

It’s essential that federal immigration officers don’t think they can act with impunity, because that will only encourage more fatal encounters. An independent probe of this shooting is an important step. On Saturday night, a federal judge ordered DHS not to destroy evidence related to Pretti’s killing in response to a lawsuit filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D).

Trump Says Administration Is ‘Reviewing Everything’ About Minneapolis Shooting

 https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-says-administration-is-reviewing-everything-about-minneapolis-shooting-a501f48e?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_1

President Trump declined to say whether the federal officer who fatally shot a man in Minnesota this weekend had acted appropriately and said the administration was reviewing the incident.

In a five-minute telephone interview with The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, Trump didn’t directly answer when asked twice whether the officer who shot Alex Pretti had done the right thing. Pressed further, the president said, “We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination.” Administration officials have publicly defended the officer

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara says "people have had enough" after Border Patrol shooting