When he took the stage at the Turning Point USA’s “America Fest” in Phoenix on Sunday, Utah Rep. Burgess Owens urged the young women in the crowd to “keep their standards high” so that “real men will strive to achieve your respect.” Owens then attacked transgender people, the COVID-19 vaccine and suggested the use of violence as characteristics that men should aspire to.
“When evil steps up to the doorstep, a real man does not get on his knees and beg for mercy with a wife and kids. Just like he knows how to use an iPhone, he knows how to use a gun,” Owens said. “He shows up and takes care of business.”
Owens then brought up the controversy surrounding transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
”Real men do not stand by as biological men compete against women, take their life’s work, and feel no shame. God created two genders. Men and women, period,” Owens said.
But Owens saved the lion’s share of his ire for the news that Pfizer and BioNTech plan to test a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on children as young as six months after two doses failed to produce a sufficient immune response.
“Real men do not stand silent as their kids are being used as guinea pigs. Pfizer and BioNTech is testing a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on children aged six months to under five years,” Owens said. “A father who allows that is a coward who lets little babies get the vaccine, so CNN feels good about it.”
Owens has had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Thousands of young people attended the event, sponsored by Charlie Kirk’s conservative student group in Phoenix. Other speakers included Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump Jr. and Kyle Rittenhouse.
