A 22-year-old senior University of Tennessee, Chattanooga decided to show her support for both Donald Trump and the Second Amendment by posing for a "graduation" photo of her lifting up a pink "Women for Trump" t-shirt to show a handgun on her waist. Brenna Spencerposted the photo on Twitter with the caption "I don't take normal college graduation photos..." and it quickly went viral with thousands of retweets and replies and nearly 70,000 likes.
While many of the replies were supportive she told ABC News that she was shocked by the amount of hate she received.
“I did think that it would get a little attention but not to this degree,” she said. “It was really, really surprising to see the amount of hate that I got.”
One person applauded her for supporting the second amendment but suggested she buy a "proper holster."
Good job supporting second amendment, but you should have a proper holster that holds the weapon securely and fully protects the trigger guard.
Spencer was quick to point out that she does has a belly band, but it is not visible in the picture.
Other users claimed that she was violating the law because they thought she took the photo inside of the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, which is a gun-free zone. Spencer said that the photo was taken outside of the museum and she never went inside. A museum official told News Channel 9 that the photo "doesn't appear to comply with the policy" because firearms are banned both inside the building and on the property outside.
Spencer, who will graduate in May with a major in communications and a minor in political science, was asked why she was bragging about having a gun. She replied explaining that she posted the photo because she is "proud of my second amendment right and I want to empower other women!"
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!