Victim Influential in Passage of Texas Concealed Carry Legislation

The following was posted to the Libernet Mailing List on 20 Jan 96 by gary.steinweg@pebble.cts.com (Gary Steinweg):

The 18 Jan 96 "CBS This Morning" program featured a debate between a variety of gun-control and self-protection advocates. The program featured NRA's Tanya Metaksa and HCI's Sarah Brady. But, in my opinion, the show was stolen by one of the other guests, Suzanna Gratia Hupp. Suzanna was present at the Luby's Cafeteria massacre in Texas where she looked on helplessly while her parents and dozens of other people were gunned down over a span of several minutes. In compliance with Texas' laws, she did not have her gun with her, it was 20 feet away locked in her car. She's convinced she could have put a quick end to the crazed gunman's rampage if she'd had her gun with her.

Suzanna's influence in the recent passage of non-discretionary concealed carry legislation in Texas was acknowledged on the program. She was then asked, "Why do you feel so passionately about it [law-abiding citizens being allowed to carry concealed weapons]?" At this she snorted [because the reason should be obvious], then went on to say:

"This may sound a little odd to you, but I'm not angry at the guy who did it [killed all the people including her parents]. In this case, we're talking about somebody who went insane. To me, that would be like being mad at a rabid dog. You don't be mad at it, you simply kill it. I was mad from day one, both at myself for having chosen to obey a STUPID law, and at my legislators for legislating me out of the right to protect myself and my family. And so, I think my driving force has been anger."

I was impressed by the three obvious points she made with that statement:

  1. Don't get mad at killers, eliminate them as quickly as possible.
  2. Only fools allow themselves to be put at a disadvantage.
  3. Those responsible for putting good citizens at a disadvantage are the ones deserving of our anger.

I hope these points were not lost on those who viewed this program.

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