For those of you who don't know about her: she is known as the Gun Girl and made a name for herself carrying an AR-10 on campus (for the Kent State University in Ohio) to protest against the gun restrictions on that very campus. She cites the 2nd Amendment (as part of the US constitution) as one of the reasons for doing so, as well as an incident at the university that occurred in 1970 when some National Guardsmen opened fire on four unarmed students who were protesting against the bombing in Cambodia.
The picture did the rounds on Twitter and other social media and shows her in a white dress, high heels and an AR-10 on her back, as well as 'Come and Take it' and a picture of a gun on her graduation cap. She told USA Today that she thought it looked 'super cute'.
She also told USA Today:
This picture had caused quite a stir on social media, with alot of people both for and against what she is advocating for.
See more: Kent State graduate carries AR-10 on campus in viral photos
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/05/16/kent-state-rifle-graduation-photos/616449002/ [14/02/2020 1:24:48 PM]
She was also accused of 'belittling' David Hogg (a well-known advocate for gun control) and this was when she came to my attention - she challenged him to an arm wrestle. I personally don't like him because he wasn't even out of high school and he was telling grown adults (who are old enough to vote) that they shouldn't be allowed guns, and because of his reactions to a journalist who allegedly made fun of him. Then he uses his 'minor' status as a shield to protect himself.
I almost forgot about her when in 2020 (just recently), some people made videos dissing her, even going as far as calling her 'Miss Poopy Pants' and 'Poop Girl'. One of these was a video by iNabber, a British You-Tuber calling her 'Miss Stinky Poo-poo', due to some rumours that circulated that she defecated in her underwear while passed out at a 'frat party'. Even a couple of 'frat boys' came up to her and asked her if it was true.
I also heard that rumour was debunked and it was spread by some other college students who were on a smear campaign against her to try and hurt her reputation.
Firstly, she might have said some stuff that might be easily misconstrued by others, and you don't have to agree with everything she says, I don't think it's a very good reason for defaming someone in that way. It only makes one more resentful and turns them into a bully, even though they might have been a victim in the past, thus giving them 'ammunition' to fight back with.
And secondly, I have also been a victim of sexual harassment (in my case, at work), so when people say things like that about her or do nothing to shut these people down when their comments actually hurt the reputation and well-being of the targeted person. And some of these people have the gall to call themselves 'feminists' and say they are all for equality, but then turn around and make sexist and misogynistic comments themselves.
The sad thing, these days, is that it's mostly people on the left who are doing it.
However, it doesn't mean that people on the right don't do it either: one of these is Hunter Avalone, most of whose videos I like because he espouses similar viewpoints, but then again he made a video disavowing her and even going as far as calling her an 'idiot'. So, she responded by calling him a 'soy boy' and a 'fraud', because while he might have espoused some right wing or conservative views, he also dissed a few right-wingers, including her (which makes him look disingenuous). And not only that, he went crook on her for 'fat-shaming' a woman in one of her videos, while he himself has 'fat-shamed' a few women also. He needs to be mindful of that also and be able to justify why he should be allowed to do so, but not her.
And another Australian You Tuber, Issac Butterfield, made a video about her regarding gun control etc; but understand that she was dissing Australia because of its more restrictive gun laws. Maybe she needs to take a step back in this instance, and try and learn about other countries (including ours) and then she might understand why some countries are the way they are.
So, how do I feel about her? She might have expressed some views I don't fully agree with, like being fervently 'pro-life' (I feel somewhat in the middle, because while I can sympathise with someone wanting an abortion, perhaps due to rape or incest, and the victim doesn't want to carry the perpetrator's baby to full-term, I also don't think they should be allowed just for anyone); I actually agree with her on many issues, like the right to bear arms.
I personally think the 2nd amendment is a good idea because it's the right to self-defence, to protect myself. In fact, many proponents of the 2nd amendment would argue that guns are the 'great equaliser', because someone who is not very powerful in their daily life will want to protect what little property they own, as well as their own lives and the lives of the ones they love. Even more so if they in a crime-ridden neighbourhood (defending themselves against a gang, or if someone was crazy and about to shoot them), if they got attacked by a wild animal that's much bigger than them, against corrupt state officials (like the military and police), and yes, some might argue they are 'women's rights' too because they allow a woman to defend herself against a would-be rapist or a crazy ex-partner who might want to bash her.
So, yes, I am very much in favour of her opinions on the issue, and thus I am prepared to give her a fair hearing, until such time she expresses opinions I might have to disavow, or disagree with the manner in which she actually expresses those opinions, whether or not I agree with her on them.
So, you go girl, and keep up the good work.
cheers,
Night Owl
The picture did the rounds on Twitter and other social media and shows her in a white dress, high heels and an AR-10 on her back, as well as 'Come and Take it' and a picture of a gun on her graduation cap. She told USA Today that she thought it looked 'super cute'.
She also told USA Today:
"Now that I graduated from @KentState, I can finally arm myself on campus," Bennett, who earned a degree in biology, tweeted Sunday. "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."
"I'm glad that my photos are making headlines, because my intent was to start a discussion about gun rights on college campuses," Bennett told USA TODAY. "At Kent State in particular, guests may protect themselves with firearms, but students cannot, and I find that insulting."
This picture had caused quite a stir on social media, with alot of people both for and against what she is advocating for.
See more: Kent State graduate carries AR-10 on campus in viral photos
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/05/16/kent-state-rifle-graduation-photos/616449002/ [14/02/2020 1:24:48 PM]
She was also accused of 'belittling' David Hogg (a well-known advocate for gun control) and this was when she came to my attention - she challenged him to an arm wrestle. I personally don't like him because he wasn't even out of high school and he was telling grown adults (who are old enough to vote) that they shouldn't be allowed guns, and because of his reactions to a journalist who allegedly made fun of him. Then he uses his 'minor' status as a shield to protect himself.
I almost forgot about her when in 2020 (just recently), some people made videos dissing her, even going as far as calling her 'Miss Poopy Pants' and 'Poop Girl'. One of these was a video by iNabber, a British You-Tuber calling her 'Miss Stinky Poo-poo', due to some rumours that circulated that she defecated in her underwear while passed out at a 'frat party'. Even a couple of 'frat boys' came up to her and asked her if it was true.
I also heard that rumour was debunked and it was spread by some other college students who were on a smear campaign against her to try and hurt her reputation.
Firstly, she might have said some stuff that might be easily misconstrued by others, and you don't have to agree with everything she says, I don't think it's a very good reason for defaming someone in that way. It only makes one more resentful and turns them into a bully, even though they might have been a victim in the past, thus giving them 'ammunition' to fight back with.
And secondly, I have also been a victim of sexual harassment (in my case, at work), so when people say things like that about her or do nothing to shut these people down when their comments actually hurt the reputation and well-being of the targeted person. And some of these people have the gall to call themselves 'feminists' and say they are all for equality, but then turn around and make sexist and misogynistic comments themselves.
The sad thing, these days, is that it's mostly people on the left who are doing it.
However, it doesn't mean that people on the right don't do it either: one of these is Hunter Avalone, most of whose videos I like because he espouses similar viewpoints, but then again he made a video disavowing her and even going as far as calling her an 'idiot'. So, she responded by calling him a 'soy boy' and a 'fraud', because while he might have espoused some right wing or conservative views, he also dissed a few right-wingers, including her (which makes him look disingenuous). And not only that, he went crook on her for 'fat-shaming' a woman in one of her videos, while he himself has 'fat-shamed' a few women also. He needs to be mindful of that also and be able to justify why he should be allowed to do so, but not her.
And another Australian You Tuber, Issac Butterfield, made a video about her regarding gun control etc; but understand that she was dissing Australia because of its more restrictive gun laws. Maybe she needs to take a step back in this instance, and try and learn about other countries (including ours) and then she might understand why some countries are the way they are.
So, how do I feel about her? She might have expressed some views I don't fully agree with, like being fervently 'pro-life' (I feel somewhat in the middle, because while I can sympathise with someone wanting an abortion, perhaps due to rape or incest, and the victim doesn't want to carry the perpetrator's baby to full-term, I also don't think they should be allowed just for anyone); I actually agree with her on many issues, like the right to bear arms.
I personally think the 2nd amendment is a good idea because it's the right to self-defence, to protect myself. In fact, many proponents of the 2nd amendment would argue that guns are the 'great equaliser', because someone who is not very powerful in their daily life will want to protect what little property they own, as well as their own lives and the lives of the ones they love. Even more so if they in a crime-ridden neighbourhood (defending themselves against a gang, or if someone was crazy and about to shoot them), if they got attacked by a wild animal that's much bigger than them, against corrupt state officials (like the military and police), and yes, some might argue they are 'women's rights' too because they allow a woman to defend herself against a would-be rapist or a crazy ex-partner who might want to bash her.
So, yes, I am very much in favour of her opinions on the issue, and thus I am prepared to give her a fair hearing, until such time she expresses opinions I might have to disavow, or disagree with the manner in which she actually expresses those opinions, whether or not I agree with her on them.
So, you go girl, and keep up the good work.
cheers,
Night Owl
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