'The View' hosts defend gun ownership as check to tyranny after years of show criticizing gun rights
Co-host Sunny Hostin touted Second Amendment as a check on tyranny but had previously suggested in 2021 it was intended to 'protect slavery'
By Alexander Hall Fox News
Published January 26, 2026 3:06pm EST
Co-hosts of "The View," a show known for staunch liberal stances like criticizing gun advocacy, found themselves defending the Second Amendment as a check to government power after the killing of Alex Pretti,
As the show discussed the shooting death of the 37-year-old on Saturday by Border Patrol agents, a clip of Homeland Security Secretary Noem was shown where she said, "I don’t know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign." Pretti was carrying a gun at the time of the incident but appeared to be disarmed before he was fatally shot.
After co-host Whoopi Goldberg accused Noem and other public officials of lying about the nature of the incident, co-host Sunny Hostin agreed.
"I think your point is extremely important because we see now that the government lies to the American people, and they also flout the Second Amendment and Minnesota law," Hostin said. "Because Alex Pretti, while he did have a concealed weapon, he had a permit—"
"He was allowed to carry it," Goldberg agreed.
"There is no question that you can protest, exercising your First Amendment right to peacefully assemble in Minnesota, while having that handgun," Hostin said.
Co-host Sara Haines recalled that a former boyfriend carried his weapon legally to all manner of places, as he had the proper license to do so, but recalled a historical fact about the Second Amendment.
"And the birth of the Second Amendment was about the people being able to protect themselves in case the government was to turn on them," she said.
"It’s for this very same thing," Hostin said.
"Exactly what’s happening right now," Haines continued. "I’m guessing he carries this wherever he goes, whatever, but this is a prime example of what people were allowed to protect themselves against was to carry that weapon."
more
https://www.foxnews.com/media/the-view-hosts-defend-gun-ownership-check-tyranny-after-years-show-criticizing-gun-rights
