Today, the Washington Free Beacon’s Stephen Gutowski shared the story of Leyla Pirnie, a Harvard grad student who’s been asked to leave her apartment because she’s made her roommates uncomfortable.
So, what did Pirnie do that was so objectionable? She had a MAGA hat in her room. And apparently, that was enough probable cause for her roommates to search her room for guns:
A Harvard student is being told to move out after her roommates, prompted by her MAGA hat, searched her room for guns and then complained to the landlord https://t.co/9NAbSwZR6N
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) November 30, 2018
More from Gutowski:
“A few weeks ago, I came back to my apartment from a weekend trip and was confronted by one of my roommates who asked if I had guns in the house,” [Pirnie] told the Free Beacon. “After being told far too many lies to count, my roommates finally admitted that they searched my closet, under my bed, and all of my drawers in pursuit of finding my guns.”
While she was given several different explanations for why the roommates entered and searched her room, the 24-year-old said she felt her political beliefs and where she is from played a significant role in the roommates’ actions.
“When I asked them why they were in my room to begin with, they each came up with completely contradicting stories (none of which made any sense), but one comment struck me in particular: ‘We saw that you had a MAGA hat and come on, you’re from Alabama… so we just kind of assumed that you had something,'” she said. “I asked why they didn’t just call me and ask me before intruding. One of the girls responded that fear took over her body and she felt compelled to search my room until she found proof… I cannot make this up.”
No, you really can’t. Can’t make this up, either:
Pirnie said the roommates confronted her about her firearms and she explained to them she was a legal gun owner who is trained in the safe handling of firearms. She said the roommates weren’t concerned with Pirnie’s handling of the guns but rather that somebody might break in and turn the guns on them or the guns “might go off on their own.”
Sorry, but if you’re genuinely worried that the guns could go off on their own, your argument is invalid. And yet, the landlord apparently bought it:
The landlord sided with the roommates despite assurances from local police that the guns are legally owned. https://t.co/9NAbSwZR6N
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) November 30, 2018
Pirnie went through legal channels to protect herself:
The roommates say the presence of the legally-owned guns deprive them of "the quiet enjoyment of the premise to which we are entitled." The student says she is a domestic abuse survivor and wants guns for her protection. https://t.co/9NAbSwIfId
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) November 30, 2018
And apparently that makes Pirnie the bad guy.
Lots of ignorant people attacking a domestic violence survivor for owning guns in my mentions right now. So, that's nice.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) November 30, 2018
Emphasis on “ignorant.”
They have a right not to fear for their lives every time they come home. Good for them. There is no such thing as a good guy with a gun.
— Truth Monster (@TruthMobster) November 30, 2018
Wow! The GOP wants to go after property owner rights. Fascists! #MAGA is a joke.
— Art Fern (@TeeTimeCarolW) November 30, 2018
What a “victim”! The way she talks about her roommate is nothing but a big ad hominem. Poor snowflake
— Bitten (@BittenSuicide) November 30, 2018
Gosh it’s a good thing she’s a white girl otherwise how would the Maga nuts know to defend the #goodroomatewithagun
— BigMulch (@homesteadhermit) November 30, 2018
The roommates are not law enforcement they don't need a search warrant. If they said they don't feel comfortable with guns in the house then they have a right to kick her ass out unless she is the only person on the lease. Is she subleasing? Then she has even less rights.
— AngryNastyDems (@AngryDems) November 30, 2018
If Gunzo McGee qualifies as a well-regulated militia, which she clearly does, the landlord has a third amendment right not to be forced to house and quarter her.
— B Finch, Esq. (@BFinchEsq) November 30, 2018
i would shoot a roommate who didn’t tell me they had a gun in their room
— ??guillotine wood lumberjack?? (@alikelybot) November 30, 2018
Lovely.
There is a fascinating implicit belief here that gun rights ought to trump the landlord's private property rights. "No guns" is a totally reasonable lease condition! https://t.co/QUwtAItTAE
— Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt) November 30, 2018
It's not in the lease but ok.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) November 30, 2018
These people are letting their fear of guns override whatever’s left of their common sense. Pirnie has a constitutional right to protect herself and she’s being punished for it. If they can’t see why that’s wrong, they don’t deserve to be taken seriously.
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