The co-hosts of “The View,” who usually take a strong liberal position and often criticize gun rights, found themselves unexpectedly defending the Second Amendment following the murder of Alex Preti. During a segment about a shooting involving the Border Patrol, they showed a clip of Homeland Security Secretary Noem stating, “I don’t know of any peaceful protesters who showed up with guns and ammunition instead of signs.” Notably, Preti had a firearm at the time, but it seemed he was disarmed before being shot.
Co-host Whoopi Goldberg accused Noem and other officials of misleading the public, a sentiment that Sunny Hostin echoed. Hostin argued that governments often lie to citizens and overlook both the Second Amendment and state law. “Even though Alex Preti was carrying a concealed weapon, he had a permit—” she emphasized. Goldberg acknowledged this, adding, “He was allowed to carry it.”
Hostin went on to explain that individuals can exercise their First Amendment rights while legally carrying firearms in Minnesota. Sarah Haines shared a personal memory, recalling how her ex-girlfriend legally carried a gun thanks to the right permits. “The Second Amendment was created to enable people to protect themselves if the government turned against them,” she noted, to which Hostin agreed.
In the wake of the Preti shooting, protests erupted in Minneapolis. Alyssa Farrar Griffin, a former aide to Trump, expressed shock at officials seemingly downplaying the importance of the Second Amendment, a concept crucial to the Republican Party.
Historically, “The View” has criticized gun rights, and on this episode, Hostin defended the Second Amendment while reflecting on her past views. In 2021, she had noted that the right to bear arms was tied to the protection of slavery, indicating inconsistency in her stance.
Goldberg also raised issues about abortion and gun rights, suggesting that if Republicans restrict abortion, they should be prepared to limit gun access, too.
More recently, in light of a 2024 assassination attempt on President Trump, the co-hosts discussed America’s fascination with gun ownership, highlighting it as a key issue. Hostin expressed concern that this might lead to calls for more “good people with guns” in troubling times.
