NJ Congressional Candidate Tim Alexander Accuses Van Drew of Double Standard in ICE Shooting Response
Alexander says Rep. Jeff Van Drew selectively applies Second Amendment protections following the killing of Alex Pretti.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — Representative Jeff Van Drew’s recent comments labeling Alex Pretti a "violent criminal" for simply possessing a firearm and protective gear are not just wrong; they reveal a staggering double standard that threatens the very foundation of equal justice under the law.
Van Drew asks, "What normal neighbor... would want dangerous criminals roaming around?" implying that the mere presence of a weapon at a protest is proof of criminal intent. Yet, his outrage is selectively applied.
We have watched for years as individuals aligned with Van Drew’s party openly carry assault weapons into state capitols, school board meetings, and peaceful rallies across this country. In those instances, Van Drew and his colleagues defended them as "patriots" exercising their constitutional rights.
Most notably, when Kyle Rittenhouse traveled across state lines, armed with an AR-style rifle, and fatally shot an unarmed protester, the GOP did not label him a "violent criminal" or a "danger to the neighborhood." They hailed him as a hero. They celebrated his "right to self-defense."
But now, when a nurse, a man who dedicated his life to healing others, is killed while exercising those exact same rights, Van Drew slanders him as a thug. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot champion the Second Amendment for your political allies and treat it as a death warrant for your political opponents.
Pretti was an American citizen. He was not a "terrorist" for owning a gun or wearing a vest. He was a human being entitled to the same presumption of innocence and constitutional protection that Jeff Van Drew demands for Kyle Rittenhouse.
South Jersey deserves a representative who applies the law equally to everyone, not a partisan hypocrite who decides who lives and who dies based on their political affiliation.
Tim Alexander Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, NJ-02 Civil Rights Attorney | Former Detective Captain | Former Prosecutor
