A Political Shift in Holsters: Liberal and Leftist Gun Ownership Surges Amid Federal Crackdowns

MINNEAPOLIS — A palpable shift is underway in America's gun culture. Following the fatal shooting of ICU nurse and gun owner Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis last month, a wave of fear and political disillusionment is driving liberals, leftists, and minority communities to seek firearms training and permits at a breakneck pace.

"Our classes are booked solid for months," says Lara Smith, national spokesperson for the Liberal Gun Club. "What we're seeing isn't a trickle; it's a flood. The calculus on the left has fundamentally changed." This sentiment echoes across a network of niche advocacy groups, from the Pink Pistols, serving the LGBTQ+ community, to the National African American Gun Association (NAAGA), all reporting membership and training requests have skyrocketed.

The trend underscores a deepening national rift. As the Trump administration deploys armed federal agents to conduct immigration enforcement in U.S. cities, a segment of the population that once largely championed gun control is now purchasing weapons. Weekend firearms courses in liberal bastions like Los Angeles are sold out through spring. In the Twin Cities, permit-to-carry classes that once averaged five attendees now regularly see 25.

"People are scared and they feel targeted," explains Jordan Levine, founder of the inclusive gun community A Better Way 2A. "They see a power imbalance on their screens every night—federal agents confronting residents—and they want a means to ensure their own safety and community defense." This is reflected in the sprouting of armed neighborhood watch patrols and the visible presence of armed individuals at vigils and protests, actions once associated almost exclusively with right-wing groups.

Political scientists note the irony. "We are witnessing a historic inversion," says Matt Lacombe, author of a book on the NRA's political power. "The 'Trump Slump' in overall gun sales continues, but beneath that, a counter-trend is booming. The idea that arming oneself against perceived threats is a solely conservative impulse is now obsolete."

The administration's response to Pretti's death has further fueled the movement. While press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the right to bear arms, she cautioned that it "does not include the right to impede lawful enforcement," a statement many gun owners across the political spectrum found chilling. For figures like Maj Toure, founder of Black Guns Matter and a former Trump voter, such rhetoric exposes a hypocrisy long suspected. "They are now blatantly saying: if you oppose our aims and are armed, you're a criminal," Toure states. "That 1000% impacts how people vote."

Historical parallels are being drawn to the late 1960s, when the Black Panther Party's armed patrols in Oakland prompted then-Governor Ronald Reagan to sign restrictive gun legislation—with NRA support. "The standard for who is a 'good guy with a gun' has always been political," notes Cato Institute analyst Patrick Eddington. "Today, the administration's inconsistent stance, from targeting transgender purchasers to condemning Pretti, asks: which group is next?"

For the new recruits at ranges and training sessions, the motivation is personal and immediate. As one armed St. Paul resident guarding his block recently put it: "This is my area. I protect my people."

Voices from the Debate

• Marcus Johnson, 42, Social Worker, Chicago: "I've always been for stricter laws. But seeing federal agents operate with such impunity? It made me realize my community's safety can't rely solely on a system that seems to be turning against it. This is about deterrence and self-preservation, not ideology."
• Rebecca Chen, 38, Software Engineer, Portland: "It's a sad but logical progression. When dialogue and protests are met with force, people seek parity. I don't like it, but I understand it. We're witnessing the failure of de-escalation."
• Derrick Miller, 55, Veteran & Small Business Owner, Atlanta (Sharply Critical): "This is liberal hypocrisy at its most dangerous! For years they've vilified us, called us paranoid for fearing government overreach. Now, because it's *their* ox being gored, it's suddenly patriotic to buy an AR-15? They didn't care about the Second Amendment until they felt scared. Welcome to the club—you're late."
• Anya Petrova, 29, Community Organizer, Minneapolis: "Alex Pretti was one of us—a caregiver, a neighbor. When the state can label someone like him an 'agitator' and kill him, the social contract is broken. Community defense isn't a left or right issue anymore. It's a necessity."