'The View' hosts defend gun ownership as check to tyranny after years of show criticizing gun rights

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,

"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."

Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump aide, said her "jaw was on the floor" hearing what she described as officials "denying the existence of the Second Amendment, something that is sacrosanct in the Republican Party."

"The View" has a long history of condemning gun rights and questioning the Second Amendment.

"OK, you can have your [shotgun] but you can't have your AR-15. If you are going to get all in my business and tell me what my family can and cannot do, neither can you. They're going to come for those AR-15s and you better get ready to give them up," she said. "Because this is America. We were supposed to be able to do things and be the people we wanted to be, and now we are in a crazy place."

"I say now is the time to talk about the common denominator when it came to this assassination attempt, is America's fascination and obsession with owning guns," Hostin said after condemning political violence. 

The same co-host went on to say that she feared the incident would spark rhetoric about needing more "good guys with guns."