Wisconsin shooting: Police chief’s statement on Natalie Rupnow’s gender divides public opinion - ‘She, he, or they ... ’
The tragic shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, has left two dead, six injured, and the nation reeling. But in the wake of the horrific attack, a different kind of firestorm has erupted—not about the shooter’s actions, but Natalie Rupnow's identity.
"She, He, or They": Barnes defends neutral stanceWhen asked if the shooter was transgender, Barnes responded: "I don’t know whether the shooter was transgender or not. I don’t think that whatever happened today has anything to do with how she or he or they may have wanted to identify. And I wish people would kind of leave their own personal biases out of this."
He added, "Whether or not she was, he was, they were transgender is something that may come out later — but for what we’re doing right now, today, literally eight hours after a mass shooting in a school in Madison, it is of no consequence at this time."
The statement, meant to downplay the relevance of gender identity, instead unleashed a torrent of criticism online, with many accusing Barnes of political correctness at the expense of transparency.
Social media explodes
"This is exactly what's wrong with today's society," one user posted. "The woke agenda is so out of control that even in a tragic situation, they prioritize their own political correctness over clarity and truth."
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Police chief Shon Barnes, addressing reporters hours after the attack, found himself at the center of a fierce social media debate when he fielded a question about the shooter’s gender. The shooter, identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who also went by Samantha, opened fire in a study hall before taking her own life. However, Barnes' handling of the pronoun question during the press conference sparked outrage, with critics accusing him of prioritizing “wokeness” over clarity."She, He, or They": Barnes defends neutral stanceWhen asked if the shooter was transgender, Barnes responded: "I don’t know whether the shooter was transgender or not. I don’t think that whatever happened today has anything to do with how she or he or they may have wanted to identify. And I wish people would kind of leave their own personal biases out of this."
He added, "Whether or not she was, he was, they were transgender is something that may come out later — but for what we’re doing right now, today, literally eight hours after a mass shooting in a school in Madison, it is of no consequence at this time."
The statement, meant to downplay the relevance of gender identity, instead unleashed a torrent of criticism online, with many accusing Barnes of political correctness at the expense of transparency.
Social media explodes
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Social media users were quick to pounce on Barnes' remarks, with many calling his use of multiple pronouns inappropriate and misleading."This is exactly what's wrong with today's society," one user posted. "The woke agenda is so out of control that even in a tragic situation, they prioritize their own political correctness over clarity and truth."