Even Republicans are turning on a Trump appointee after their wild threat to jail law-abiding gun owners with valid licenses

Jeanine Ferris Pirro, a high-ranking Trump appointee serving as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, recently shocked gun rights supporters by threatening to arrest law-abiding gun owners who bring firearms into the nation’s capital. This represents a major shift in messaging that has created a firestorm among Republicans and Second Amendment advocates.

According to Newsweek, Pirro delivered a stern warning on television, making it clear that licenses from other states won’t protect gun owners in D.C. “You bring a gun into this district, count on going to jail, and hope you get the gun back,” she stated. She added that she doesn’t care if someone has a license in another district or is a law-abiding gun owner elsewhere.

The situation becomes confusing when you consider that the Department of Justice, which Pirro serves, actually sued D.C. in December 2025. The lawsuit argues that the district’s ban on registering AR-15s and other popular semiautomatic rifles violates the Second Amendment. The DOJ is challenging D.C.’s strict gun laws while a top DOJ official threatens to lock up licensed carriers.

Pirro’s harsh stance contradicts her own recent guidance on gun enforcement

D.C. already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Local rules require all firearm owners to register their weapons with police. The district also effectively prevents residents from owning certain types of semiautomatic rifles, making civilian ownership of those models impossible within district limits.

What makes Pirro’s tough talk even more surprising is her own recent history. Just a few months ago in August 2025, she directed federal prosecutors to ease up on gun charges. She told them not to seek felony charges for people carrying registered rifles or shotguns, citing guidance tied to Supreme Court rulings protecting the Second Amendment.

This sudden hard line appears connected to a fatal incident last month involving immigration agents and Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both 37. Pretti was shot and killed, and videos showed he was carrying a gun he was legally allowed to possess. The officer even removed the firearm from the scene. While Trump’s administration faces various controversies, this gun policy contradiction has particularly angered Republican lawmakers.

The incident sparked heated debate, with some federal officials suggesting Pretti shouldn’t have been armed. FBI Director Kash Patel pushed back against the idea of armed protest, saying: “You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It’s that simple. You don’t have that right to break the law and incite violence.”

Pirro’s comments ignited a political firestorm among Republicans. Florida Republican Congressman Greg Steube quickly reacted on X, daring the U.S. Attorney to act on her threat. “I bring a gun into the district every week, @USAttyPirro. I have a license in Florida and DC to carry. And I will continue to carry to protect myself and others. Come and Take it!” he posted. 

Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger also expressed disbelief, posting that federal officials “turned against the 2A faster than I’ve seen before.” The growing divide over Trump appointees’ actions has sparked disagreements among political families and allies across Washington.