Mass shooting survivor argues against new gun control plan

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For the president's big push for gun control suffering a bit of a setback as the list of states opposed to new federal regulations.

And swearing to fight any new laws continues to grow by the day got word -- just more units this weekend.

This is we saw impassioned testimony on the hill last week from a powerful voice in this debate.

A survivor of a mass shooting in Texas back in October 1991.

A man shot more than forty people in the Luby's restaurant that day killing 23 of them.

-- hop was there and lost both -- for parents that day.

It took a -- 45 seconds which is an eternity.

To realize that the guy was simply going to walk around.

Take -- Pulled the trigger.

Go to the next person take gang pulled the trigger.

He was executing people.

-- says she does not blame the shooter for her loss.

But instead the laws and the lawmakers.

Who she claims left her sitting there unable to protect herself or her family.

I don't view myself as the victim of gun violence -- -- myself as a victim of a maniac.

Who -- use a gun as a tool.

And I -- myself as the victim of the legislators that we had at the time that.

Let me defenseless.

Joining me now author of from -- the legislature one woman's fight against gun control.

Susanna -- and safety sympathy here and I know that you are.

A former US congresswoman I will -- US Susanna because I know you offer this testimonial.

In your personal capacity in your capacity as someone who yes who is who has lived through an episode were -- maniac unleashed.

Hell on you when your family and so many others that -- take us back to the moment when he when he drove his truck through the -- window.

First you thought it was a car accident.

But soon there after you realized he was there to -- few people and you thought for a moment on I've got this because I have a gun in my purse.

Yeah I remember back in 1991 these crazy shootings weren't happening like they're happening now so you're kind of waiting for some sort of reason you know you waiting for him to say everybody -- -- wallets up on the table -- or something like that and it did take.

-- time 45 seconds is a really long time to figure out that he was just there to -- keep people.

So I -- reach for my purse that was on the ground next to me I had a perfect place to prop my arm we have the table upturn in front of us.

And then I realized that a few months earlier I had made a really -- the decision I obeyed what at the time with Texas law.

And began early Monday I'm out in my car so was completely useless to me.

And when you realize that you felt like a sitting duck he talked about how what -- myself do not -- salt shaker out of -- and the level of frustration Megan -- -- the kind of a dealer.

The level of frustration it's still makes me angry when I think about it there just you can't go up against guy with the gun with the salt shaker or butter knife.

That.

Look I've had people say will you could have missed or your gun connecting him -- And -- -- things are true but the one thing that nobody can argue with his that it would have changed the month.

That's all I'm asking just keeping an opportunity need to change beyond.

You're doing your father was a do or as well and your father who rushed the gunman an unarmed your dad was -- he rushed the gunman to try to save.

Lies in that restaurant -- fortunately he was killed he made a run for an open window that someone had crashed open to try to get out the back of the restaurant took your -- with you.

But unfortunately your mom would not leave the man she lied about tried to take -- Yeah I I.

Reached over I grabbed her I tried polar opposite come -- mama got around we gotta get out here and then I made it out that back window when I turned around.

Realized that she had not followed me -- And the police officers the first responders several of more patience of -- and they told me about a week later that they had found her she had.

Crawled out into the -- where my father had been gunned down -- -- still alive.

Still conscious and she was cradling him and the -- police officer said that they Saul.

This thirty something year old man walk up to her put -- -- under -- They said she looked at -- putter head down and he pulled the trigger.

That's how that you hit the gunman -- my parents had just had their 47 wedding anniversary in mom wasn't going anywhere with that Dan.

And you feel like that day usually talked about how.

Look he was like this gun it was like a rabid dog you don't get -- -- -- rabid -- with me taken out -- the back and shoot and you put him down.

But but you you felt like the laws that constrained view.

That made you I want because she -- your instinct is all of our instinct most of us to be a law abiding citizen to follow the rules.

And you did that you really feel like that's what wound up costing more lives that -- So lately and I can't tell you where a number of other people in the restaurant that had dutifully left their guns out their vehicles that day.

In fact a couple of years after the incident Al woman older woman approached me in the local bank and says he's -- -- you don't know me.

That I want to tell you that my daughter was one of once that was killed there that day and her gun without her car as well.

And then they say that you don't we have any coincidence that we see these things happening over and over again.

In restaurants in schools in malls in places.

We're -- -- main -- it there they are gone if rezone.

-- isn't it amazing that all of these mass shootings if make -- if if guns are the problem.

Then somebody explain to me why we don't see these mass shootings and had to ski -- sheets or or the dreaded gun -- you know places where there are thousands of guns in the hands of at least as many law abiding citizens these creeps go to places where they know that they can rack up high body that counts.

And it just think some painfully out.

You know that folks on the other side argue why does somebody even somebody such as yourself who wants to defend yourself in these.

Circumstances got -- -- refiners ourselves in the why -- why do you need a magazine clip that has more than ten rounds you know like could you defend yourself with something that's ten rounds -- last.

Well I may be a bit above libertarian at heart but I hate that word need to.

That strikes me too much.

Of old Communist -- each according to its needs how frightening it is to have a government committee in determining what my new -- armor.

Where will that leave it's not of their business what I have at -- at home as long as I use it in a law abiding manner and and -- meg and I get hurt your mom -- well I just I know your mom and and I'm a mom and I just can't imagine being back in that position.

But it's at a -- and my parents with me have my kids with me and not have any way to protect them that just that just makes me it'll.

And I know you say that even people who are opposed to guns and and you know more robust Second Amendment Rights.

Would probably want to have somebody who had a gun nearby -- god forbid they found themselves in a -- type situation.

And I guess that's that's the old adage about you know you can you can be a liberal -- talk about gun control you want but when you're actually in the situation.

Most and normal people want to be able to defend themselves and their children or grandchildren.

You know I I don't know -- and it certainly in -- parents that sounds like you had a beautiful family and their instincts were so laudable and I mean each one of you thinking your father acting so courageously your mother acting out of love and your survival instincts in here in your initial courage to try to take on the gunman.

Thank you for being here in times it.

But thank you for having me but let me make it clear no courage -- I ran out of that restaurant.

-- your instinct wasn't around your instinct was to fight back and then reason prevail when you realized.

It wasn't it wasn't possible Savannah thanks again.

Thanks for having me.

I'll have you heard her story before.

As she went to the US congress she's been a congressman.

For for many years Bentley a lawmaker from -- years and now.

As this -- out but it was not history that I was familiar with but.

Unbelievable taking your -- -- on Twitter at Megyn Kelly.

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Mass shooting survivor argues against new gun control plan

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