Why are Republicans defending the killing of Alex Pretti?

One of my old school conservative friends on Facebook (not a Trump supporter) commented the above question. It seems clear to me that Pretti cooperated with ICE and was executed. I can think of a few possible explanations why Republicans would rationalize this instead of just agreeing that ICE made a mistake, but each one feels like it’s only part of the answer. What’s the heart of the matter?

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WestonTexan · 18-21, M Best Comment

The heart of the matter is that Alex Pretti represents their political enemies and ICE's actions are something they support and want to see more of. Pretti was trying to stop ICE from doing what they were trying to do, therefore he deserved whatever happened to him.

Frame-by-frame analysis of the shooting doesn't matter to them, and frankly it doesn't really matter to me either. Even if Pretti had not been disarmed, the shooting would not have been justified since ICE should not be there in the first place and they shouldn't be shooting anyone.

WestonTexan · 18-21, M

@Theyitis Thank you for BC :)

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@WestonTexan

Frame-by-frame analysis of the shooting doesn't matter to them, and frankly it doesn't really matter to me either. Even if Pretti had not been disarmed, the shooting would not have been justified since ICE should not be there in the first place and they shouldn't be shooting anyone.

The federal, state, and local government agents have been murdering people for 249 years without any serious consequences. Such action will continue. It is part of the national culture.

Wiseacre · F

@WestonTexan smart young man👍

deadmoon · 31-35, F

@WestonTexan I have something more to add to your point.

Republican politicians and right wing outlets have now spent over a decade or longer engaging in stochastic terrorism towards immigrants and activists who embrace them. This stochastic terrorism campaign served its purpose of dehumanization and this is evident in how many Republicans are now trying to normalize violence towards these individuals. This is easy to accomplish in action now because it has already been normalized in rhetoric. They simply do not see them as human beings anymore because they have been conditioned to believe that their opponents are domestic terrorists and because they are terrorists, their murders are not only justified, but even patriotic and good for our country because it makes us “safer” to have eliminated a “threat” in the form of a “domestic terrorist” even if that “domestic terrorist” is a mother and poet or an ICU nurse who was murdered trying to protect another woman.

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WestonTexan · 18-21, M

@deadmoon "Many problems. A simple answer". Could there be a more on-the-nose example of scapegoating? They are literally telling people all their problems are caused by a specific group of people that we can just get rid of and society becomes a utopia. It's beyond parody.

walabby · M

@WestonTexan Sounds like 1930's Germany... 🙁