SR605: SR605 Pretti, Alex; condemn the killing of and protect the constitutional rights of peaceful assembly and right to keep and bear arms

26 LC 129 0758 Senate Resolution 605 By: Senators McLaurin of the 14th, Jones II of the 22nd, Jackson of the 41st, Mallow of the 2nd, Harbison of the 15th and others A RESOLUTION Condemning the killing of Alex Pretti and protecting the consti tutional rights of peaceful1 assembly and the right to keep and bear arms; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the United States of America was founded upon the prin ciple that individual3 liberty, limited government, and constitutional rights are not privileges granted by the state,4 but inherent rights retained by the people; and5 WHEREAS, among these foundational rights are the freedoms of sp eech and peaceful6 assembly protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and the right7 of the people to keep and bear arms protected by the Second Amendment; and8 WHEREAS, the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that the Sec ond Amendment9 protects an individual’s right to keep and bear arms, including self-defense, as recognized10 in Heller, and the right to carry a handgun in public for self-defense, as reaffirmed in Bruen;11 and12 WHEREAS, on January 24, 2026, during a protest in Minneapolis against the immigration13 policies of the Trump Administration, United States Border Patrol agents killed Alex Pretti,14 a Minnesota resident and American citizen; and15 S. R. 605 - 1 - 26 LC 129 0758 WHEREAS, Mr. Pretti dedicated his adult life to serving America's veterans, having worked16 at a Veterans Affairs hospital since his early twenties, most recently as an intensive care unit17 nurse; and18 WHEREAS, on the day of his death, Mr. Pretti was engaged in peaceful protest, exercising19 his constitutional right to assemble and express political dissent; and20 WHEREAS, on that same day, Mr. Pretti lawfully carried a handgu n in compliance with21 Minnesota law and the Constitution of the United States; and22 WHEREAS, publicly available video footage depicts federal agents deploying pepper spray23 against Mr. Pretti and forcing him to the ground immediately prior to his death; and24 WHEREAS, nothing shows Mr. Pretti drawing his firearm or attemp ting to take a firearm25 from immigration enforcement officials; and26 WHEREAS, following the killing, Trump administration officials justified the execution27 solely on the basis that Mr. Pretti was lawfully in possession of a firearm; and28 WHEREAS, President Trump defended the killing by disseminating an image of Mr. Pretti's29 lawfully owned handgun, portraying the mere exercise of a constitutional right as evidence30 of wrongdoing; and31 WHEREAS, senior administration officials further asserted, with out evidence, that an32 individual legally carrying a firearm was evidence of an intent to commit "maximum33 damage" against law enforcement, with Stephen Miller publicly l abeling Mr. Pretti a34 “terrorist,” and the Secretary Kristi Noem echoing that characterization; and35 S. R. 605 - 2 - 26 LC 129 0758 WHEREAS, the National Rifle Association warned against the demonization of law-abiding36 citizens for exercising constitutional rights; and37 WHEREAS, law-abiding Americans exercising rights explicitly protected by the Constitution38 are not terrorists, but participants in the American experiment of self-government that begun39 250 years ago; and40 WHEREAS, Americans reasonably expect the federal government to protect constitutional41 liberties, not to rationalize the killing of citizens by treati ng the lawful exercise of those42 liberties as suspicious or sinister; and43 WHEREAS, Republican voters took President Trump at his word tha t he would always44 protect the Second Amendment rather than invoke it as a pretext for lethal force when45 politically convenient; and46 WHEREAS, no administration possesses the authority to declare t hat constitutional rights47 cease to apply because they obstruct a President's political agenda.48 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body49 condemn the killing of Alex Pretti, and condemn the killing of any American citizen where50 the asserted justification is the lawful exercise of constitutional rights.51 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of this body reaffirm their sworn duty to52 uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of53 Georgia against all threats, foreign and domestic.54 S. R. 605 - 3 - 26 LC 129 0758 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate calls upon all elected officials, regardless of55 party affiliation, to reject rhetoric that equates peaceful protest or lawful firearm possession56 with criminality or terrorism.57 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body commit to working together58 to protect the constitutional rights of peaceful assembly and the right to keep and bear arms,59 as guaranteed under both state and federal law, from encroachme nt or abuse by federal60 immigration law enforcement agencies that have demonstrated a pattern of disregard for the61 civil liberties of American citizens.62 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed63 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the64 press.65 S. R. 605 - 4 -