In the wake of the student-driven Parkland hysteria, some young people have taken to social media to voice a differing opinion on the right to keep and bear arms.
Brenna Spencer, 22, posed during her college graduation shoot with a Smith and Wesson .380, which she displayed in her waistband while lifting a “Women for Trump” shirt.
“I don’t take normal graduation photos…” she wrote in the caption.
I don’t take normal college graduation photos… pic.twitter.com/eI1NvLFYHs
— Brenna Spencer (@BrennaSpencer) April 7, 2018
As per usual, Twitter exploded. In the four days since she posted the original photo, the post has received over 12,000 comments, 12,478 retweets, and 85,636 likes.
“I did think that it would get a little attention but not to this degree,” Spencer told ABC News. “It was really, really surprising to see the amount of hate that I got.”
One Twitter user, Victoria Silva, even tried to have Spencer arrested by contacting the local Chattanooga, Tennessee, police. Fox News highlighted the tweet, which has since been locked:
@ChattanoogaPD would you like to give us your two cents? Per the thread, this young female is taking a photo w/ a firearm, in an area w/ a posted “no-weapons” policy. This showboating behavior is irresponsible, reckless, & potentially dangerous.
Signed,
A concerned citizen 🧐
— Victoria Silva (@Victoria__Silva) April 9, 2018
Others followed suit:
You hope your sons find a criminal to spend forever with? And a dumb criminal at that? This is a picture of her blatantly breaking the law. Concealed carry is illegal on those museum grounds. You’re providing photo evidence against yourself….this is so dumb it hurts.
— Kit. (@KitMaxwell_) April 8, 2018
The photo was reportedly taken outside the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, which bans firearms inside. Some Twitter users claim that Spencer would have had to walk through the museum to reach the photo location, but that hasn’t been confirmed.
“I know the Tennessee state gun codes,” Spencer, who is set to graduate in May with a major in communications and a minor in political science, told ABC News.
SEE ALSO: Florida University Students Wearing Empty Holsters to Class to Oppose Gun Control
“I carry everywhere that I’m allowed to carry,” she said, which excludes her college campus.
Other Twitter users claimed to support Second Amendment rights but weren’t thrilled about Spencer’s decision to display her firearm.
Because I’m proud of my second amendment right and I want to empower other women! Absolutely they are tools but I will always brag about being able to carry a gun to protect myself, my friends and my family!
— Brenna Spencer (@BrennaSpencer) April 8, 2018
Gun ownership among women is on the rise, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The number of women who hunt has increased 85 percent since 2001 and target shooting has seen a 60 percent increase.
Like Spencer, women are most likely to purchase a semi-automatic pistol or a revolver, and they cite self-defense as the number one reason they purchase a firearm.
She seems like a nice young lady. (Photo: Twitter)
Wow! Smart, hot and armed! I’m in love! You go girl! You’ll never be anybodies victim.
GOOD FOR HER STAND UP TO THE HATERS BUNCH OF SISSYS . THEY GET IN A SITUATION THEY’LL BE BEGGING & PLEADING FOR YOUR HELP . THANK YOU GOD BLESS HAVE A BLESSED DAY LOVE ONE ANOTHER & QUIT HATING
Nothing more sexy then a intelligent lady with a firearm and an understanding of her God given rights.
Brenna is one smart cookie.
This day in time every woman should be packin.
I Home she never has to use it but if she does.
I’d rather see 12 people judging her for it, than 6 people carrying her.👍🏻
Her arming herself is admirable and wise in the times we are living in…she is now physically equal/superior to a 6’3” 225 lb. thug/rapist. While it is hoped she’ll never need it, “it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it”. More young ladies should consider the same. An un-armed citizenry is an outlaw’s preferred target. Having a large sign declaring a facility as a “gun free zone” is an open invitation for those who wish to kill and wreak havoc. When it comes to left wing liberals’ thoughts about gun control, common sense has been abandoned…their position is tantamount to canceling the Constitution, burning the Bill of Righ to and raping the Statue of Liberty.
Finally, news about a smart young lady, leave her alone all you ignorant busy bodies.
This young lady gives me hope.
I love you Brenna
too bad about all the me to’s can’t think for them self’
Good looking lady, and good for her. My daughter just got her carry permit, at my nudging.
What a great way to initiate a date, if she’s available. Go to the shooting range for an enjoyable day of sharpening your skills, and enjoying each other’s company!
I am putting my S&W 380 in my pants right now. Great gun….great girl!
making the 2nd amendment work. love it!
Good for her. It’s good to see we still have young people who are independent thinkers and strong defenders of our Bill of Rights. Too many are ignorant of what our rights, all of them, really mean and how important they are to the preservation of their own freedom through a free society.
Standing up isn’t easy as she has seen since the post. I hope she isn’t dissuaded from further support for the Second Amendment and all of our individual rights.
Looks perfectly normal to me . In fact better than normal
Wow she looks great . Hang in there lady . P— on all the haters sissies and cry babies etc etc .nice shirt
I like it! However, for her to say she didn’t realize how much publicity this would create is probably not totally truthful. She hoped she would get the visibility that it has created. She is probably a journalism major, looking for a breakthrough job with a conservative rag or TV station.
Smart chick
This location is not off-limits to concealed carry. She is on an overlook at the museum that is accessible without going inside the museum so no laws were violated.
Many places (such as malls, theaters, restaurants) have “no weapons” policies that are not “the law.” I carry all the time in such places. If discovered, I can be asked to leave. Only if I then refuse to do so can I be charged with trespass.
Not sure if the museum is covered by the law or not, but generally only specific government facilities (schools, court houses, secure police facilities, etc.) are covered by “no guns allowed” statutes.
Obama directed the CDC to commission a study on gun safety. The findings were that 2.2 to 3.3 MILLION violent crimes were averted or deterred by legal gun owners in the US annually.
So gun control advocates want 3 million violent crime victims every year? Sadists!
Attempting to restrict gun ownership to law abiding citizens is a sadistic, people-hating, and even sexist move. Gun control advocates/cowards want to take us back to the dark ages when physical strength dominated and controlled. The gun leveled the playing field so that less strong men and women would not be subjegated by physically stronger people. Tyranny demands a docile population for control – one without the capacity to fight back.
I carry a gun for the same reason I wear a seat belt; I hope to never need it, but it is best to have that potential protection than not.
I applaud her chutzpah, but would more be comfortable had she displayed proper carry in an appropriate holster
This is Brenna’s business and her right! I hope she’s licensed and support her fully. The only drawback I see is she should have kept it quiet.
Thank you, Brenna, . . . if I had a daughter your age, . . . I would hope you two were shooting buddies at the local gun range and that she would be both as intelligent and attractive as you. God bless you.
She have the right to protect herself hurray for the second amendment.
Is Brenna single?
Does it matter?
Probably not If your not into beautiful women
And this is what taking responsibility for own safety looks like, and also how the statist bullies act when confronted with a beautiful young woman who chooses to do so. All power to you, Brenna, and may God have mercy on the souls of any who dare to attack you. Keep your powder dry.
The bullies on the left will try to demonize her and stifle her 1st amendment rights. You have to make this very public to show that the 100+ million gun owners in this country we will not be silenced and have rights as well. Go girl, get your buddies to do the same.
Can’t we just call this an “undocumented” weapon? Another safe space with a “no guns” sign, I really feel safe. LOL.
No guns inside the building. A simple online look see using the museum website and Google Maps shows she was in an outdoor area that is accessible from the outside via a path from the area of the bridge in the background. Smart lady.