Shooting Survivor to Congress: Second Amendment Protects the Citizens Against “You Guys Up There”

IF TEXAS LAW HAD BEEN DIFFERENT, COULD LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED?

by Sharon Rondeau

(Jan. 30, 2013) — The daughter of two parents gunned down during a madman’s attack on a Texas restaurant in 1991 testified to a congressional committee, which included Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) at the time, that the Second Amendment “is about all of our rights to be able to protect ourselves from you guys up there.”

In what was then termed “the worst mass shooting ever to occur in the United States,” 23 people were killed, including the gunman, whotook his own life when police arrived.

The New York Times reported that an acquaintance of the perpetrator said that George Hennard had had a drinking problem and “talked crazy” when he was inebriated.  A training seminar for police officers had been held at a nearby hotel, which allowed a rapid response to the sound of gunshots at the restaurant.

It appears that no one patronizing or working at the restaurant was armed that day.  Hennard drove his truck into the front window of the restaurant before opening fire on a cafeteria of approximately 80 people during the lunch hour.

Hennard is described as having been “angry and withdrawn.”

The young woman, Suzanna Gratia Hupp, told Congress about how her unarmed father had attempted to stop the gunman and her mother had chosen to die by his side rather than exit through a window.  Ms. Hupp ran for office and served in the Texas legislature for ten years, becoming an advocate for concealed-carry laws.  Although not a member of the National Rifle Association when she testified, Hupp was given a lifetime membership in the organization by former President and well-known actor Charlton Heston.

The NRA has been demonized in the news of late following the shooting deaths of 20 six-year-olds and six school employees by a crazed gunman in Newtown, CT on December 14, 2012.  NBC News accused members of the NRA of being the purveyors of “mass murder products.”

Obama arguably exploited the tragedy by posing for photo-ops with surviving siblings and family members two days later, posting one such photo on the White House website at the top of a montage entitled “2012:  A Year in Pictures.”

The NRA has called for armed guards in schools and training principals and teachers to safely carry and operate a firearm in the case of an emergency such as what occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  Democrat members of Congress have introduced legislation which, if passed, would limit the size of ammunition clips to ten rounds in an apparent effort to stop a mass killing.

Obama reportedly believes that an assault weapons ban and other restrictions “will actually keep those irresponsible, law-breaking few from getting their hands on a gun in the first place.”

The Sandy Hook perpetrator was not old enough to own a gun under Connecticut law, which mandates that no one under 21 can purchase a firearm.  Adam Lanza somehow took possession of his mother’s legally-purchased guns and victimized her first before driving to the school and launching his deadly attack on defenseless women and children.

Another attack on school personnel occurred on Tuesday and is ongoing today after a gunman in southeastern Alabama climbed onto a school bus, took a child hostage, and killed the bus driver with four bullets as the children looked on.  The young child is reportedly unharmed as of press time on Wednesday but in need of daily medication which police were able to transmit to the perpetrator through a PVC pipe leading to an underground hideout in his home.

Like Adam Lanza and George Hennard, the school-bus murderer is reported to have had symptoms of mental illness.

School bus drivers are unarmed in keeping with the “safe school zone” mandate advocated by then-Attorney General Janet Reno and passed by Congress in 1995.

Obama and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel have been accused of “extortion” for their roles in pressuring public employees not to invest in companies which manufacture guns or ammunition.  While initially stating that mental health issues would be explored as they relate to gun violence, the Obama regime has instead concentrated on the processes by which guns are purchased legally.

This evening, there will be a public hearing for Newtown, CT residents to discuss school safety issues, beginning at 4:30 p.m.  On Monday, the Connecticut legislature took testimony from parents whose children were killed at Sandy Hook.  In a continuing display of media bias, NBC News reported that a father who lost his son was “heckled” during his testimony.  Upon watching the video clip, however, it is evident that Mr. Heslin asked a question, then turned around to see if anyone would respond, upon which Second Amendment supporters provided such responses as “Our Second Amendment rights.”

The url of the NBC article below the video is “emotion-father-of-sandy-hook-victim-heckled-by-gun-nuts.”

MSNBC anchors provide their own opinions and host panels consisting of only progressive guests.  The “news” source declares that “America is a liberal country.”  Anchor Martin Bashir bemoaned that Heslin was “interrupted by the cries of a heckler.”  A guest speculated that the “hecklers” were “NRA plants” and attempted to paint Obama as placing himself “in the political center.”

H/T Don Fredrick, The Obama Timeline

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Update, 10:14 p.m. EST:  Several outlets have revealed that the video clip of Mr. Heslin was edited such that it first appeared that Second Amendment advocates attending the legislative hearing in Hartford on Monday verbally harassed Heslin as he spoke about his son and actions he wants to see taken to prevent further gun violence.  The Washington Post aired a longer video which placed the incident in context and showed that Mr. Heslin was not heckled.

When this article originally went to press, The Post & Email had viewed a video which showed Mr. Heslin asking the audience for an answer to his question as to whether or not anyone needed to own assault weapons with high-capacity clips.

MSNBC’s guest David Corn characterized NRA members and other Second Amendment advocates as “gun fanatics” and “extremists.”  Corn advised keeping shooting victims such as former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the Newtown families “in the spotlight.  Let them have the platform that they want, because the only way anything happens on the gun and violence prevention front is if the intensity level remains on the side of people looking to change the status quo.”