Prominent gun rights organizations, including Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the National Rifle Association (NRA), called for an independent investigation into the shooting and defended Pretti’s right to carry a gun. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus and Second Amendment Foundation both released statements mentioning Castile by name and describing his death as “troubling” and “a tragedy”. There was a core moral issue,” said Bryan Strawser, the chair of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. The world watched this man being killed – not by a gun – but being killed while we all watched,” she said. Hatchett said she hoped both legislation and training could stop interactions between gun owners like Castile and Pretti and law enforcement officers from leading to death and injury.

Source: The Guardian February 04, 2026 16:43 UTC