Nationality American Name John Bennett | Religion Baptist Political party Republican | |
 | ||
Profession retired U.S. Marine, business owner Role Oklahoma State Representative Office Oklahoma State Representative since 2010 Residence | ||
John R. Bennett is a U.S. politician from the state of Oklahoma serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for District 2, in the eastern part of the state.
Contents
Early life and career
John R. Bennett is a retired U.S. Marine and the current owner of a storm shelter business, American Storm Shelters Inc. He married Nicole Knickerbocker in 2004.
Political career
Bennett was first elected to the Oklahoma Legislature in 2011.
He is the author of successful legislation to require school districts to treat student expressions of faith in the same manner as any other permissible subjects.
Controversies
John Bennett has been accused of Islamophobia by Representative Emily Virgin.
At an event with constituents in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, on September 15, 2014, Bennett referred to Islam as "a cancer in our nation that needs to be cut out" and claimed that there is "[no] difference between moderate and radical Islam." Bennett affirmed his stance, stating that he had read the Qur'an and "Ninety percent of it is violence. And only 10 percent of it is conciliatory."
In November 2016, Bennett posted on his Facebook page a photograph of Hillary Clinton with a caption suggesting that she should be executed by firing squad. After the post caused controversy, Bennett said that it was "barracks talk" and that he was not advocating for Clinton's execution, but said that he viewed Clinton as a traitor who should be imprisoned.
In March 2017, Bennett gave a questionnaire to three Muslim students who came to meet him at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City. The questionnaire said: “The Koran, the sunna of Mohammed and Sharia Law of all schools say that the husband can beat his wife. Do you beat your wife?” The students were at the capital for the Council on American-Islamic Relations' third Oklahoma Muslim Day at the Capitol. According to CAIR, this questionnaire “intentionally misinterpreted ideas [from the Koran] to try to slander Muslims." The survey was written by ACT! for America.