A 22-year-old recent graduate exercised her Second Amendment rights by taking a stroll on campus with a feathery white dress and an AR-10.
Kaitlin Bennett, a biology major who picked up her degree from Ohio’s Kent State University earlier this month, complied with state law that allowed visitors on the public campus to carry a firearm for a series of graduation snaps. While a student, school policies prohibited her from doing so, but now that he has graduated, she borrowed her brother’s rifle and decided to make a dramatic statement to protest the college’s ban on guns.
“Now that I graduated from @KentState, I can finally arm myself on campus,” said Bennett. “I should have been able to do so as a student — especially since 4 unarmed students were shot and killed by the government on this campus,” referring to the 1970 Kent State shootings where National Guard troops fired on a group of unarmed college students at a protest.
Now that I graduated from @KentState, I can finally arm myself on campus. I should have been able to do so as a student- especially since 4 unarmed students were shot and killed by the government on this campus. #CampusCarryNowpic.twitter.com/a91fQH44cq
The photo sparked a number of angry responses and even death threats, which the new college grad took in stride, saying, “Thanks to all who have sent me death threats for taking a picture. You’re the biggest advocates for gun rights. You proved exactly why people carry.”
Thanks to all who have sent me death threats for taking a picture. You're the biggest advocates for gun rights. You proved exactly why people carry.
Standing by her convictions, Bennett tweeted out, “I have no apologies for my graduation photos. As a woman, I refuse to be a victim & the second amendment ensures that I don’t have to be,” along with smiling photo of her with the AR-10 slung over her shoulder in front of the Kent State sign.
I have no apologies for my graduation photos. As a woman, I refuse to be a victim & the second amendment ensures that I don't have to be. pic.twitter.com/5CKmQobrMb
Gun control advocates David Hogg, a Parkland shooting survivor, retweeted a comment from Mom’s Demand Action founder Shannon Watts to Bennett, saying “White privilege is a helluva drug.”
Watts then tried to sick Kent State officals on Bennett, who says she conducted her photoshoot after verifying with campus police that she was in compliance with all laws and guidelines.
.@KentState: Does this violate your weapons policy? If so, what action will you take regarding this student?
Please let parents of prospective college students know ASAP.
Mom's Demand Action huh? What kind of mother doesn't want their child to be protected? Especially when defensive use of firearms save at minimum 500k lives. I wouldn't want to be your daughter. https://t.co/FZe1MQ3rqM
.@davidhogg111 I don't know if your tiny arms with Hitler-esque bands around them can't reach your @ button, but maybe instead of retweeting racist posts about me, you can have a real conversation about guns with me like the adult you want to be. #CampusCarryNow
In the end, it seems like the photos worked well for the gun rights advocate, who picked up a job offer from an area gun store (which she accepted) and a number of other offers for companionship that she declined, citing prior obligations.
Not only have I received a job offer tonight, but several young men have offered their hands in marriage to me. I'm sorry I have to decline. I have a boyfriend. pic.twitter.com/q7YX4oi2Pi
Stoeger has kept calm and carried on with a line of low-key defensive autoloading shotguns for a while and the M3000 series feels—and performs—really well.
