I am licensed to carry concealed in 38 states. I've gone through extensive training and qualifications. I spent hours learning to not do what this person did. When carrying, he is held to a higher standard and is required to cooperate with any law officer in a way that reassures the officer that he is not a threat.

Several years ago, I was a witness to a crime. I stayed until the investigating officer was ready to question me. As he approached, I placed my hands on my head and advised the officer that I was carrying concealed and I will follow his instructions. He said, "thank you, now put your hands down, I just have a few questions." He did not ask for me to show him my gun. He didn't seem to care. He just came over and we talked. Had Pretti made an effort to cooperate, he would still be alive.

People want to play armchair quarterback and pretend that they have greater situational awareness than the highly trained officers. They don't. In an altercation, the officers are justified to shoot him upon discovery that he is armed. The reason? If he got his arm free, it would take less than two seconds for him to pull the weapon and kill one or more officers. They can't take that chance, especially if he is still struggling with them. He's dead because he was stupid.