In 2018, now Ohio University alumna, Kaitlin Bennett, a conservative gun-rights activist, shared graduation photos of her on campus with an AR strapped across her back and carrying her cap that said: "Come and take it." During her time as a student, she challenged a Parkland survivor to an arm-wrestling match on Twitter to determine the fate of the Second Amendment. On Presidents Day, she decided to go back to campus with a bodyguard to ask students questions about the holiday for her Libertarian group "Liberty Hangout." Many more left-leaning students were not happy with her surprise visit and left class to see her and protest. As she was driving her truck surrounded by protesters in the parking lot, she filmed some students throwing water at the windows. Later she tweeted, "This is what happens when a Trump supporter goes to a college campus. Leftists at [the university] started a riot when [we] showed up, and the [university police] let it happen." The University police reported that there were no injuries or violent outbreaks during the protest and that everyone was just exercising their First Amendment rights.
Questions:
1. Ohio University prohibits its students from carrying firearms on campus, but after Kaitlin graduated, she was legally allowed to bring the firearm to campus to take her photos because she was a visitor. What do you think about the university's policy? How do you think the fact that the university is public affects any changes people might want to make to the policy?
2. Do you think her arm-wrestling challenge to the Parkland survivor is morally justified?
3. Any other thoughts?
I think the university’s policy on open carry for campus visitors is fine and I don’t have an issue with Bennett’s decision to take her graduation photos in the way she did. While I do see why people would object to this policy because it introduces guns on a school campus, a college campus is definitely not the same as a primary or secondary school because the students on a university campus are adults, so a public university campus (not within its buildings) is not too dissimilar to most other places people visit regularly in public where open carry is legal (if the state allows it). While I don’t think open carry being legal in some states is fundamentally wrong given our second amendment rights, I do believe it is necessary to have some sort of open carry permit system in all states to, at the very least, calm some concerned people down. As for Bennett’s arm wrestling challenge to a Parkland survivor, I obviously don’t think it is the “right” thing to do or the appropriate thing to do, but Bennett is all about exercising her freedom so she is free to do whatever she wants. She obviously does all of this for the attention and publicity to try to further her political ideas, and I think that is perfectly fine because everyone else is free to judge her for the actions she makes.
ReplyDeleteLike Nathan said, while Bennett is within her right to challenge the Parkland survivor to an arm-wrestling match, I don’t think it is morally justified and just plain insensitive because gun control is connected to a traumatic event to the Parkland survivor while Bennett just wants to be able to have a gun with little to no regulation. As a general comment, I think people need to stop bringing her up or giving her attention, even if it's to mock or criticize her, because it only gives her a platform to spread her message more, and most of us agree that her pro-gun rights message is harmful.
ReplyDelete1. I see nothing wrong with prohibiting students to carry guns on campus; just like barring them from alcohol or drugs, this is a fair policy to ensure the safety of the student body. Similarly, it is fair to hold visitors, who are not traveling under the expectation of contributing to a learning environment or the position of submission that comes with being a student, to a different standard; an open carry policy is different from encouraging wanton violence, and the presence of a gun does not necessarily bring violence. Both public or private schools should be allowed to make decisions about this independently unless there is a state policy prohibiting guns on school campuses or mandating their presence.
ReplyDelete2. I would be hard-pressed to think of a case where an arm wrestling match would be morally justified or unjustified. I don't think such childish activities deserve discussion on the national stage, and Bennett's challenge is certainly childish. Ascribing any moral value or lack thereof to it is pointless.
I believe that the policy that prohibits students to carry firearms onto campus is meant to ensure the safety of the students. I understand why this policy would not extend to people who are not enrolled in the school; however, I do see the controversy with the double standards within this policy. Because the university is public, they cannot do much to regulate the actions of people on their campus that are not enrolled in the school. I believe that the arm-wrestling challenge to the Parkland shooting survivor was extremely insensitive. It essentially downplays the trauma of the shooting and compares it to a childlike game. I believe that Bennett has a right to express her opinions about gun rights, but she could be doing it in a more professional and sensitive way that would upset less people.
ReplyDeleteI do think that the policy of prohibiting students from carrying firearms on campus is a good way to maintain the safety of the students. However visitors who carry guns to school is not such a good idea because it sparks controversy. Due to Ohio University being public, it is hard to enforce and regulate the actions of those who are not enrolled as a student. On the other hand, if it was a private school, it would be easier. Bennett's comment on an armwrestling challenge with a Parkland survivor was morally unjustified. The fact Bennett targeted a student who survived that trauma and event like the shooting that happened at the school was unnecessary. I understand that she was trying to make a point about her feelings about gun rights, but downplaying such a huge event that happened recently to a armwrestling match is wrong in many ways.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that Bennett should have been allowed to bring a gun on campus. If the campus were to allow students to have a gun on campus I would not see a problem with visitors carrying a gun. Rules about student and campus safety should be consistent with students and visitors. I think that her arm-wrestling challenge to the Parkland survivor was not morally justified and very insensitive; however I do not think she really cares if it was morally justified and wants to provoke people who do not support Trump. Bennett is free to say whatever she wants and to go to the school if she wants, but it seems like she did it to garner attention and victimize Trump supporters.
ReplyDeleteAs a student who attends a private school and will most likely go on to attend a public university, I think firearms should remain illegal for students on campus. Schools and Universities and places people go to get educated and to learn, no one should feel unsafe in such an environment because it impairs their learning. That is why universities have their own police, to ensure safety. Legalizing firearms at school would only distract students from their learning. Parkland has her rights to own her firearm and carry it in legal manners, however I think she should be more aware of others. I don't think it is right for her to show off her weapons and I am not morally justified to challenge a survivor of a shooting.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think that the school’s policy is understandable in a sense that their main priority is to ensure the safety of their students while on campus. In regards to their gun policy that applies to any of the school’s visitors, I think that it can be justified seeing as the visitors are not actually students regularly on and off campus, or even living full-time on campus. Moreover, I agree with others in that regulating and enforcing a no-gun policy for visitors on campus will ultimately be difficult seeing as it is a large public university that anyone can visit. In regards to the second question, I see that Bennett was trying to prove a point, but I do believe that it was inappropriate, especially seeing as she challenged a Parkland survivor.
ReplyDeleteI think that the policy of prohibiting students from carrying firearms is a safety precaution. This is a fair policy to ensure students feel secure and safe on campus. Whatever rules apply for students should apply for visitors as well. I think that her arm-wrestling challenge to the Parkland survivor was not at all morally justified. While she has the right to free speech, that is simply inappropriate. Any survivor from any kind of traumatizing situation will bound to be more sensitive about that topic. The fact that the survivor was targeted is insensitive; she completely disregarded their feelings. Sure, they had different values and beliefs and she wanted to make a point but it is not right to attack people in this way. If Bennett wants to discuss her beliefs on gun rights, she needs to learn to do it maturely and without attacking people.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the school's policy not allowing students to carry firearms on campus I think it is understandable and reasonable. However, I think the fact that this rule doesn't apply to visitors undermines the school's attempt to protect the students from gun violence on the school campus. As a result, I believe the school should enforce the no-gun policy to all people on campus regardless if they're a visitor or student. I think the arm-wrestling was an inappropriate, and insensitive action that diminished the issue of gun violence and gun-control in the U.S. to something that could be resolved through a game. Although it is in her right to challenge the Parkland shooter, as others stated before, it seemed like she did it more to provoke a response rather than to make a constructive statement or point.
ReplyDeleteI think that if guns are banned for students, then they should also be banned for visitors (including alumni). At the end of the day, even though it is a public university, it is still a school, institution, and somewhere that the students should feel safe. Through a lack of regulations in terms of visitors bringing weapons on campus, it poses more of a threat to the students - at least on a campus. However, I think that since it is a public university, implementing laws or regulations that limit the gun rights of visitors will be more difficult - compared to somewhere like a private school. In terms of Bennett's behavior toward the parkland survivor, I do not think it was right at all - especially considering what that individual has probably gone through in relation to the parkland shooting. Bennett can (and will) have her own opinions, but it does not give her the right to threaten, scare, or instill fear in other individuals.
ReplyDeleteAs a school, Ohio University has the responsibility of ensuring the safety of all its students. By allowing people to bring guns on campus, this introduces a possibility of danger to the students. Though the 2nd Amendment allows for the right to bear arms, there is nothing wrong with barring weapons only in school zones. Even though she graduated and is a visitor, it is still reasonable that she should be held to the same expectations as the students are. Her arm-wrestling a Parkland survivor is neither morally justified nor unjustified. This was just a stunt on her part to gain attention, but it was not about the Parkland shooting specifically so it was not explicitly offensive, and is thus not morally unjustified. It was not justified either as doing this did not prove anything and made no overall difference in the debate over gun control.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I feel like Kaitlin Bennett's action are outrageous. She deliberately goes out to start a controversy and spreads hate which I feel is a complete waste of time. I feel as though the university has every right to have a policy that is intended to protect the students. The fact that Kaitlin's intention was to disrupt the peace is unnerving. I feel as though everyone has the right to express their opinion, but it isn't always welcomed by the people around you.
ReplyDeleteI think the policy should be adjusted to just not allow any firearms on campus instead of simply regulating the students. Especially since it is public and anyone can walk on campus. I honestly don’t understand why she had to do this. If she wanted pictures with her gun, she could have literally gone anywhere else in Ohio. And if she wanted pictures at Ohio University, she absolutely didn’t need to bring her gun.
ReplyDeleteThe university’s policy on being able to have open carry for campus visitors is somewhat okay, and Bennett taking her graduation photos was her decision is alright. Personally, I believe that the policy of the university should be adjusted just for the student’s safety. Bennett is known to be a very annoying person who deliberately goes out of her way to try and prove a point and start a controversy. Bennett enjoys causing a raucous and I think her going to Ohio University to disrupt the students was so unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, I believe that the university’s policies are fine. However, I think that the policy should definitely state that either firearms are allowed or they are not allowed. It seems like it would be a bit ridiculous how one day a student is prohibited from bringing a firearm, but then graduate the next and be able to bring a firearm. I also think that her entire arm-wrestling challenge is a bit ridiculous since that would really prove nothing and get nothing done.
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