All it took for University of Tennessee senior Brenna Spencer to spark a viral gun debate was a “Women for Trump” shirt and a personal handgun.
Gun control advocates were none too pleased this week when a 22-year-old “Volunteer” attracted nearly 75,000 “likes” to her graduation picture. Reactions to the pro-Second Amendment image also garnered the attention of media outlets ranging from ABC News to The New York Post.
“I did think that it would get a little attention but not to this degree,” Ms. Spencer told ABC for an interview published Monday. “It was really, really surprising to see the amount of hate that I got.”
The photo was taken Saturday outside the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga.
“I don’t take normal college graduation photos,” a caption with her tweet says.
Some of the negative feedback included:
- “Female Trump supporters are hurting the cause of empowering women by supporting Trump, who has zero respect for women or their rights.”
- “The only thing that looks right in this pic is if you’re thinking of jumping [off the bridge].”
- “White privilege at its finest!”
- “This picture screams #walmart #peopleofwalmart.”
- “Looking like her Dad and Mom are second cousins.”
- “Yet her white ass would still bash [people of color] for gun violence. I f—g hate trump America.”
- “I don’t agree with just supporting women blindly just because they’re women. Female Trump supporters couldn’t care less about women’s rights.”
Ms. Spencer denied claims that she illegally carried her Smith & Wesson firearm inside the museum.
“I know the Tennessee state gun codes,” she told ABC. “I carry everywhere that I’m allowed to carry.”
The young woman works as a field representative for the conservative nonprofit Turning Point.
