Fans Defend Jared Padalecki Amid 'Come and Take it' Tattoo Controversy
The actor has not commented on getting a tattoo that is now being deemed controversial by some fans.
In case you missed it, Jared Padalecki has got a new tattoo and infuriated some fans over the tattoo's association with gun rights activists. The symbol that is now inked on Padalecki's forearm is a cannon with a star above it – an insignia linked to the historic slogan "Come and take it", initially a statement of Texas' pride that later evolved into a motto for those advocating for the Second Amendment rights.
While Padalecki's intentions behind the tattoo remain unexplained, many fans have already lashed out at him for getting a "pro-gun" tattoo just several weeks after the deadly school shooting in his own state, Texas. But there is also another group of people that was quick to defend the actor.
"If the fans who claim love for Jared really loved and respected him, they would trust his decisions. He is a proud Texan who got a Texas tattoo. No hidden hateful meaning. We know who he is and what he stands for. Jared accepts everyone without judgment. Do the same." – @MarieMoriarty1.
These fans have pulled up the records of Padalecki's contributions to the Democratic politicians who support gun control, revealing that the actor poured some $26,000 into the political action in 2018. According to the screenshots shared online, Padalecki supported MJ for Texas, Texas Democratic Party, MJ Victory Fund, and Act Blue, a nonprofit tech organization promoting left-leaning nonprofits and helping them reach out to donors online.
Many Padalecki fans also suggested that Jared could have simply tattooed the "Come and take it" symbol as a way to express his love for his home state of Texas, given that the slogan is one of the state's "most sacred mottos", albeit a controversial one.
The story behind the motto is linked to the 1835 Battle of Gonzales that took place during the Texas Revolution against Mexico. Before the battle, the Texas colony was given a small bronze cannon, which Texans refused to give back to the Mexican authorities after the 1835 events, offering them to "come and take it".
Now, the slogan and the symbol of a cannon with a black star above it is cherished as a statement of Texas pride, as well as used by gun rights activists who occasionally substitute the cannon with a gun or a rifle. Padalecki's tattoo only includes the symbol of a cannon and a star with no slogan.