Minnesota Gun Shop Owner Reveals Uptick in Customers As ICE Continues Patrols, Following Alex Pretti Shooting

Tensions remain high in Minnesota as ICE and Border Patrol agents continue their patrols in the state. Following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as well as the ongoing protests that resulted from the shootings, a local firearm shop owner revealed he has seen an increase in customers.

Speaking to reporters, John Monson of Bill's Gun Shop & Range shared that he has seen an increase in customers looking to obtain a gun and a licence to carry. Monson said that the customers are not buying firearms to protect themselves against the federal agents. Rather, they are purchasing guns due to their concerns of 'lawlessness' that is happening as these operations by the federal agents are enforced.

Exploring Second Amendment Rights

'Everybody seems to come in and say, "Are people buying guns to protect themselves from ICE?" and it's just the opposite', said Monson. 'Not a single person has said "I need a gun to protect myself, my home because I'm afraid these federal agents are going to bang on my door", the vast majority of people come in and say, "I need self-defence because the lawlessness that's happening around these ICE operations" and the things that are happening outside of what's going on, is what's really got people interested in exploring their Second Amendment rights for self-defence'.

Monson said his classes put an emphasis on de-escalation and concealed carry instead of openly carrying firearms. 'When we teach our class, we teach a concealed carry', said Monson. 'We don't want you to open carry because you don't want you to have that attention'. The shop owner added that he also disliked the 'lawlessness' that has come about following the continued ICE and Border Patrol operations in the state. Tensions remained high even after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents.

Small Businesses Disrupted

The increased presence of ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minnesota has also disrupted operations of many small businesses. Employees of some businesses have stopped showing up to their workplace out of fear of suddenly getting detained by these federal officers. Lake Street in Minneapolis, which has around 2,000 restaurants, marketplaces, and shops, experienced a 40 to 100 per cent drop in revenue compared to the previous winter.

Some storefronts have also closed, with some proprietors having heard people blowing whistles to signal that some federal agents are in the area. Around half of the immigrant-owned businesses in Minneapolis have either temporarily or permanently closed out of safety concerns or a shortage in manpower since early December.

Other businesses, however, have branded themselves as community centres to provide food and warmth for residents as they take part in the protests.

Minnesota Seeks to Stop ICE Profiling

Separately, state officials in Minnesota have sought a federal court to temporarily put a stop to the use of excessive force and racial profiling by ICE agents. Officials have argued that such actions, frequently taken by the agents, are unlawful. The request is part of a larger lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the administration is violating the state's constitutional right to police its own residents. In the lawsuit, the state officials say the agents 'are engaged in a campaign of racial profiling, excessive force, retaliation, enforcement at sensitive locations, open disregard for and violations of defendants' own policies, and open disregard for and violations of state law'.

The DHS, in court documents, have argued that Minnesota is 'effectively seeking a state veto over the enforcement of federal law by federal officers'.