Transcripts For CSPAN3 Amanda 20240703

I founded the Clare Boothe Luce over 30 years ago. Our mission was to prepare and promote conservative Women Leaders. Our primary focus is women in college. You see them on the pictures around the wall as well as promoting our best women like todays speaker women who are role models for students. This event cw, has been held monthly for 23 years now. We gather, hear conservative Women Leaders discuss Critical Issues and talk over lunch. Weve had some great leaders over the years. Senator marsha blackburn, lela, rose, Mollie Hemingway and today Amanda Collins to speak at cw and im very happy to introduce her. Shell be talking about the importance of Second Amendment, especially for women. And her book titled beyond survival. Amanda has been a loose Center Speaker for many years, and she speaks on College Campuses at woman events and Law Enforcement conferences across the nation advocating for Second Amendment rights, her book beyond survival reclaiming my life after i survived details her xp release of a brutal assault on her college campus, a campus that was a gun zone. One of the loose center sponsors that i heard her give was at a texas that was in the midst of a debate about to allow students to carry firearms. Amanda had been trained by her family to use firearms for hunting and for protection, but she wasnt allowed to carry it on her campus out there in nevada, it could have stopped her assault. Think about these socalled gun free zones at schools, other places. If you are a criminal or wanting to commit a violent crime, would a gun free zones be place to go to commit a crime . You knew people couldnt defend themselves. Ive been president of the center now for 30 years. Soon im going to shift from president to chairman. And all of these years weve been speaking out against these nonsensical, pitiful, pitiful arguments from the left about how gun free zones, more gun control will decrease crime, while at the same time, weve all watching the horrible increasing crimes. Have you been to d. C. Lately . Washington, d. C. Makes it very difficult for citizens to a license to carry firearms. Hows that working for d. C. As crime skyrockets and criminals, not law abiding citizens, have the guns in d. C. Think about it. If crazy person were to walk in this room right. Determined to mow down audience. Whats the one thing we could do to stop him . Well, we could call the police, but its not likely theyd get here in time. Well, it would be one thing to stop him. One of you in the audience who carries a firearm would stop the crazy shooter. More law abiding citizens need to learn how, use firearms and to carry them back. One of our regular activities here at the luce center is to take our young women students to the firearms range, and we have some pictures over in the hall there by the kitchen to learn about Firearm Safety and use. Staff and students. Amanda by telling her story and writing this book has been a great help in the ongoing discussion about Second Amendment, the constitutional that gives american citizens the right to carry firearms. We have summer books available afterwards for purchase, and she will be signing them following her talk. If youd like. She shares her story to encourage other women, she says, to live a full life after trauma so women can how they want to defend themselves. Shes had a lot of appearances. The media on fox and friends glenn beck show. Shes been radio and podcasts and many public. She received a bachelor degree from the university of nevada reno in education and english. So shes such a good writer. She lives in florida, her husband and her three daughters, who she homeschools. What does she to do in her spare time . She loves being with her family, mentoring young leading bible studies. And shes a runner following todays talk and and answer, please have some lunch with this right outside the room and join us the book signing. Now, please join me in welcoming amanda college johnson. Thank. Put my daughter down right now. What the hell are you doing . I dont know. You put her down. She doesnt know you you. About nine years ago and, a play area at a mall, a middle aged man who was clearly there with no one but was carrying a small child sweater reached over the half and picked up my 22 year old baby girl. My 22 month old baby girl. I was eight and a half months pregnant with our third daughter and helping our oldest balance on a play structure in the middle. I yanked her down and i screamed as loud as could with the intent to get as much on myself as i waddled over to my baby girl, who was then dangling with her feet as the man who had her froze in shock at discontent and at non complacent display. That day. Like most days as a stay at home mom. I was first in line for not only my safety but my daughters safety. My safety. I was fortunate that day because i left with my girl in my arms and he walked out with an empty childs sweater. The police were called and i was informed that because he had left the premises, that no crime had been committed. Nothing could be done. Ironically, that particular my husband was not with us. He was taking a selfdefense and home Defense Firearms course. Men are hard wired be the defenders and protectors of our home. I really do believe that that should be encouraged, urged and fostered in the same breath. We cant forget. Women are often by ourselves and alone with our children. And for that reason we need the choice to be able to choose how were going to participate in our own selfdefense. Because in our day to day civilian lives, we are first in line for our defense. Ive had the honor to be invited here to speak with you today, and thank you so much for that. Welcome, michelle. Im here to speak to you. The importance of the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment is a foundational to american democracy. Balancing that individual liberties with the need for Public Safety and security. The Second Amendment is first and foremost a safeguard against tyranny. It serves as a check against government overreach, as an armed populace, resist an oppressive regime. Once during a radio show, the host asked me just to name one country that has over thrown the government by being armed and laughed. Because i thought that she was being sarcastic. And then i quickly realized she was legitimately asking me. I said, the one worst sitting in not only 1776, but a second time during the war of 1812. So what does this have to do with daughter being almost stolen in front of me. The Second Amendment also in shrines the right of individuals to keep and bear arms ensuring that have the means to defend themselves their families and property. Its an honor for me. Be here today to. Speak in this capacity with you about the importance of the Second Amendment because the reality im no expert. Im not all i have offer who humbly is my experience and my journey. That day at the mall i had my concealed carry on me. I was fortunate enough not have to use it. Guns are offensive to people because often times people who find them offensive see them as only extremely violent violent and an act of violence. I cant call myself peaceful if im not also capable of great violence. If im not capable of great violence. Im not peaceful. Im harmless. As the first in line to my selfdefense. And thats after in the defense of my. I want the choice to be peaceful. My relationship with firearms started at the tender age of three and its one of my earliest memories growing. I was ready for bed. I on my daddys shirt and i ran downstairs to my daddys workshop and to tell to contact me. And i saw him cleaning a firearm. And i was curious. So he picked me up and he set me on his work bench. And he continued to claim his firearm as he told me very plainly and very clearly what it was and what it was used for. He let me know it wasnt a toy and he let me know that no firearm is a toy and that they all to be used as though theyre always loaded. He let me know where each part of the rifle was and explained it to me, and thus began the ongoing conversation in my household that a very healthy respect, a and understanding the responsibility that entails gun ownership for both my family that also trickled down to my sister myself. I started target practicing under the guidance of my dad when i was six and i competitively in high school. We my senior year we placed third in state. The right to bear arms has a deep in American History and culture. Reflecting principles of selfreliance, science, independence and the and cultural significance of these principles has not been lost on my family. Though it didnt translate to firearms. When i was five, i was informed by my mom that i needed to get my Second Degree black belt to get my drivers. When i turned 16. I was nine when i realized that that rule applied only to the collins household and not the society as a whole whole. By the time i went off to college, i knew my value as a human being and i knew my life was worth protecting. As the first in line for my selfdefense, with the ten years of martial arts training i had knew that the harsh reality is, as a woman. A firearm is the most powerful or equalizing factor when against opponent much larger than me. For my 22nd birthday i asked my dad to pay for my concealed carry because wanted to be selfreliant and participant in. My selfdefense. I did everything i could to ensure i would be an unmatched victim should the rise ever should the occasion of a rise. However, nevada legislator had decided to draw an arbitrary line around the University Campus and declared them a gun free zone. So as a law abiding, whenever i stepped onto that campus, i was defenseless. The very act that was meant to ensure safety had an unintended consequence of making me harmless and it affected the whole community. On october 22nd, 2007, it was a typical evening. The thing different for me was the midterm that was waiting for me. And when we left class at 10 p. M. , i left with a group of students like i always did because it had been ingrained in that their safety and numbers as we left talked about the midterm like most College Students would talk about what were answers had for the questions whether or not we thought we did well. I was fairly confident and as approached the parking garage that i had parked in i didnt see between myself in my vehicle. And so i wished the group a good told them id see them the following week and i made my way to my vehicle as they went upstairs to to theirs. Shortly that on my way to my vehicle. What i realized is that what i not seen was a man that was hunched behind the wheel of a truck and i sedan. He grabbed me from behind, forced me to the asphalt placed a pistol. My temple clicked off the safety, told me not to say anything. And then he proceeded to brutally raped me. As the first in line to my defense, i was rendered harmless out of the corner of my eye could see the University Police cruisers parked and at the same time i knew that the University Office had closed at 6 p. M. And i was no was coming to save me. I could see in attackers eyes that he had the propensity kill and with my life hanging, with the threat of a trigger, i braced myself, meet my creator and wondered how it was going to be for my family to fight me like that. If im being honest with you today, that night, i was really hoping i was on my way to meeting jesus because actually living after surviving this horrid crime seemed impossible. It just took me about a minute and a half to describe my attack to you and that time, one person in this room and, our country has been raped. Every 90 seconds. Someone in country is raped. My attack lasted, 8 minutes. My least favorite cliche. What doesnt kill you to stop the wrong . What didnt kill me left me wishing i was dead. Because what good is surviving if youre not really living the terror. I felt in the moments during my attack to haunt me for the next 13 months while my attacker remained at large in november of 2008, he was finally by the reno police, and he would eventually be tried and, convicted for, not only raping me at gunpoint and a gun free zone, but also for kidnaping and raping his second victim and raping and murdering his last known victim. Discontent is the First Step Towards progress as constitution minded citizens. We an obligation to this country to use the voice thats been given to us to protect our Second Amendment rights through education critical and constructive discourse. Because power of willful ignorance can never be overstated to be honest. Before my attack, i never really thought twice about having to leave my firearm at home. I was young, invincible. It bothered me that i was seemingly trustworthy. Across the street at the sandwich shop. But as soon as i crossed the road, i was suddenly incapable of making a sound decision with a firearm. But im a rule follower. And so believing didnt have a bone in this fight, so to speak. I also that nothing to this magnitude would ever happen to me because i was smart and i was aware of my surroundings and i would never let anyone take advantage of me. I was wrong on both ends. As a human being, we always have the right to stand up for our lives, our dignity and our bodies are protecting. If you have a story like mine or not, all safeguards i took were not a guarantee. It was simply risk. My children, my home. And i am worth protecting and keeping safe. And if my safety cannot be guaranteed by a third party, then i ought to be able to choose how i want to protect myself. Its human. When we hear stories like to always brush it off. Oh, that poor girl. Until that poor girl becomes you. Your a friend or another loved one whos left trying to piece their life back together. The woman was before entering that parking was, not the same woman driving out night. And theres no way around fact that this was a defining moment. My life. But i had to make choice on how it was going to define me. My prayer eventually became and continues to be. Let me die while im still alive in tragic day occurs in our lives. We have a choice. We can give in to the void an emptiness that fills our hearts, our lungs, and constricts our ability to breathe. Or we can find meaning. Its okay to exist in the void for a bit. Its natural. I certainly. And thats important to grieve whats been taken. And going to be future moments for me that are going to be spent in the void of grief. But when im able i choose life and meaning. What about you and and all my time of sharing my story, i have learned that everyone has a story. Weve all faced trauma. Trauma is trauma. And ive seen it time and again as image bearers of our creator. We have what it takes within us to live a full life after. But it doesnt happen by choice. It has to be pursued relentlessly. Its anything but easy. And over time, i have gotten stronger. During my journey of reclaiming life. My. And ive learned that i needed for key elements on a daily basis. First, i need my backbone. Thats the core of what holds me up. Its the center, everything. And for thats my relationship with jesus. What about you . Whats your backbone . Second, i need my rib cage. Its my community. It protects and guards my vital organs and my heart. And breathes back into me and loves life into me. And speaks truth. When i need. It. I have found my rib cage by trial and error and i have learned that these people need to be chosen. Wisdom in my life. But its been critical. If youre brought into someones rib cage, i want to you to hold that space for them. It is an honor and a privilege. And if you dont know what to say. It is perfectly acceptable. Show up and shut up. Dont underestimate the power of your presence to just sit in the uncomfortable someone. Who is in your rib and importantly, whose rib cage. Are you actively participating . Now. Third, i need my funny bone. Its probably been the hardest one for me to develop as ive had to learn. Laugh again. Not saying i laugh at what happened to me, but when moments present themselves, i take advantage of them and i find joys in my life. What brings you joy. Last i had to find my wishbone. I had to change my thinking. Why me . To what now . My wishbone is what has brought here today. And its developed three points over time. The first one was to challenge the notion that gun free zones are safe zones. The second was to educate society about the lifelong effects that rape has on an individual, while encouraging others be able to reclaim a full life after surviving such trauma. And the third was your claim of full life. For myself and to be an emotionally present mother and and to actually, instead of just floating through time, numb. Whats wishbone in your story . Whats your what now instead of why me or what can it be . My wishbone has taken time, grow and develop and its taken many forms over the last several years. In challenging the notion gun free zones, i have found myself several judiciary across the country pleading with lawmakers to allow campus carry on our. The question of my is and remain to be what would have been different if i had been carrying my firearm that night. It continues to keep me up at night as i replay those 8 minutes over and over over. Its the same end result i would have been able to stop attack as it was in progress and consequently to other lives. Two other rapes would have been prevented. And three lives would have been saved. In my quest to ensure that no other person have to endure the same horror that i have, i have often been told your cases just so rare. As im talking to you today. I would like to consider for you to consider. Most rapes still go unreported, as did mine. Initially. And while im talking, one incident involving two rapes, involving two other cases as we have no way of knowing exactly how many assaults occur on our University Campuses, what we do know is reportedly one in four women will be raped while. Attending a call and one third of them will be on the campus that they are attending. A study from the journal of international of interpersonal debt violence found 126 admitted perpetrate leaders had committed 907 sexual assaults. 126 perpetrate hours, had committed. 907. Sexual assaults involving. 882 victims. While i did the math and thats an average of seven victims per perpetrator is serving for one serving any amount of time for one. So with this information, i can confidently say my case isnt rare. Whats rare about my case is that im openly talking it and whats more rare is that my rapist is on death row because the majority of these cases go unprosecuted. Ive been as well, you have just been so much worse off. If you had been carrying your firearm. We really are looking out for your safety. Lets roll that for a second. I being raped at gunpoint. How much worse off could i have been. This has led me to the second part of my wishbone thing. Collectively, a society. Our culture does not understand what rape really . Soul. Murder. My soul was murdered that night. Not a single of my being was left unscathed. And have to believe that its because we just dont understand what that crime actually does. And so, as im standing in front of you, remember. Every 90 seconds, someone in this country is being raped. And less than 20 are reported. Why . Maybe because four short years after roe v wade was passed in 1977. The Supreme Court ruled in coker v, georgia that the sentence of death, the crime of rape was, grossly disproportionate and excessive punishment, and is therefore by the eighth amendment, as cruel and unusual punishment. Because the rapist, and i quote, does not take a life. Yet every time that argument maintaining roe v wade comes up the first argument i always hear is, well, what if a woman gets raped raped . For as long as i can, womens choices have been that fixation target. During every election, though, always around reproductive rights and rarely is it ever around the right for women to choose how they want to protect themselves. If we as a society really cared about women being raped, then the first thing we would do is overturn. Georgia v coker. If the goal was truly keeping government from overreaching and keeping law makers outside of bodies, we would be able to do whatever we could to equip women with the ability to prevent being raped. Instead, every semester across the nation, students are given pamphlets about how to prevent sexual with the suggestion like making ourselves less desirable to our attacker by urinating, crying or telling them. We have a sexually transmitted disease. Proving there is a lack understanding that rape is about violence and and is using sex as that vehicle has very little to do with sex and everything to do with violence and control over another human being. Somehow owning a firearm and wanting to effectively myself is whats. Be better for me to retrieve it as much as i can and call for help. I wait for government officials to, with their guns to offer help. Leaving me to harmless as im in line to my defense. Others have suggested call boxes. The Response Time 12 minutes. If the call box works. My rape lasted 8 minutes. The choice to participate and one selfdefense should be left to the individual. And that individual question be mandated by the government. And we as law abiding citizens shouldnt have to hand over our ability and our to ourselves, to a third party. The legislators in nevada continue effectively legislate women into victims by stripping our Second Amendment right because, theyre seemingly more intimidated. Law abiding citizens like sitting in class with our permitted firearm than they are of their rapist, waiting for in the parking garage. Again. Guns are what is offensive because they represent only violence. And id like to remind you, it cannot peaceful unless i capable of great violence. As first in line to my defense my childrens. If im not capable of matching that of violence that is coming me im not peaceful. Im harmless harmless. The lawmakers note it and the criminal knows it. There is nothing place that night from keeping my attacker coming onto that campus and theres nothing in place now from keeping the next attacker coming on to campus. During sentencing. My attacker, given a one year enhancement charge for having a firearm where he shouldnt have had. One year. You could argue and it has been presented to me, what more. Would i have wanted. He is serving four consecutive life sentences and the death penalty. It sets a precedent as a law abiding citizen, i had more to lose that night. If i was carrying my firearm and if i wasnt carrying my firearm, had i been carrying firearm, i would have faced expulsion from school. A federal loss of ever being able to have my concealed permit. Do you think i would have gotten a teaching job with that . No. But he was given a one year enhancement charge. I will keep persisting and asking the same question to legislators until i a satisfactory answer. How does wondering mean defenseless protect you against a violent crime. Youre first in line to . This an issue that continues to remain and present. As i shared with you earlier, i wasnt first in line just on my University Campus. Im still first in line and im still charged with keeping my children safe. My oldest daughter is 13 years old and five short, sweet years. Shes going to be first in line when i send her off to college and i want her to be able to choose how she wants to actively participate in her own selfdefense. I never thought that seeking after the Second Amendment rights on College Campuses would lead me to wanting to equipped and empower other survivors to be able to reclaim a full life. Yet every time i share my story, women always come up to me and share their story with me. And they would always ask, how are you doing it . How are you living a full life . And this was before i was even talking about it. And so had eventually learned it ignited a fire within me to be able to lead these women with me back to the land of the living. And while im still that lifelong journey, thats why i. I wrote and published beyond to serve as a guide to other survivors and give insight to loved ones and to anyone who with them to be able to know how to lovingly and effectively walk alongside us as we continue to be first in line. Thank you so for having me. Made. Yeah, what a great what an honest talk. I get emotional just listening to her. Oh, were all going to go to the range and start practice. Okay. And then for concealed carry on gives us in every place else, theres no safe zones, are there . Theres no gun safe zones. All right. We have a microphone here for questions. Yes. Lindsey, you wouldnt mind giving your name, your affiliation, because we want people on to hear your question. Eleanor malcolm, i how i did not have the privilege of growing up a culture like yours where there only tentativeness to safety. So how does someone you know at this stage in life kind of launch start approach consider education as and so there are a lot of resources you that id be happy to get you in touch with. Theres a lot of womens organizations as well. And i think doing your research know for one what the current laws are and then going the range and things with people who are safe and who you know, are also response, who are responsible and get get out there and get going. May be uncomfortable, but hard things are often worth it. Hi, im patty manders. I actually work for our Virginia Attorney general and i would love to. Have you been successful in any state with legislation and, you know, removing of these gun zones on colleges . In colorado, i was instrumental in helping preserve the right to to maintain concealed. And then ive written a lot of letters i wouldnt that its always a Community Effort its always a a force its one person but i have certainly been able to write letters and get things passed and several other states and to encourage people who are in their own states to be able to go before legislators to get it to, get it passed. Nevada still a gun free zone, though. Oh, i know know. Yes, maam. Can you tell us a little bit about the attacker, what you glean from the case and little bit about him a little about the attacker and what former fashion . I mean, was he illegal alien . Was he married was he is another student . Was. So that is covered a bit in my book that i have no problem sharing. He was not alien. He was a. Construction worker at that time. University was doing a lot of add ons and so he was a pipefitter. He was on the University Campus. Often it is that he knew habits and he knew how to get how to get me. I based based on my attack and the other attacks that ensued, he was rather methodical with what he did he clearly escalated. He had a longtime girlfriend and a two year old son at the time. And reno, known as the Biggest Little in the world. And only a few degrees of. And so i have actually encountered a handful of people knew him in their daily lives. They were shocked to know that he was the one who was responsible for this. It. It was also surmised during trial that the reason did not kill me was because he was that i would able to be identified by him to the extent that i was able to. And how did you later do that by pictures . I worked with this sketch artist. I worked with a sketch. And that sketch eventually is what helped lead to his arrest. Yes, maam. Are there colleges or universities that do allow certain carry of sorry . Are there colleges and, universities or in states that will allow. Yes, maam, there are. Mom brain is hitting me very hard at the current moment to exactly which ones. For a lot of states, though, however, its not a blanket. Allowance. They say it is at the discretion of each university. So the pass it. But then they it off to the universities to be able decide and more often than not, even though the state allows it the individual universities and the privatized University Codes will say no and not it. I do know that utah does allow it. Colorado does allow it. Off the top of my head, i think minnesota and i believe about ten or 11 states now is the last statistic that i saw that does allow. Every now and then i read an article that says a student goes back to their guard because they have a gun in their trunk of the car and saves students. Sure, im shooters, but sure so that is that depends on the current how the individual law is written. At the university of nevada in the state of nevada that was not an option for me to have my firearm in the vehicle because even bringing it on campus at all was completely illegal. There are other states who will students to lock their firearm up securely in their vehicle. And thats why its really important to go through and read what the law actually is and not just the headline. The. Just want to mention one more thing. Im sorry, virginia. So our attorney office, we have a victims first mentality. We working with Law Enforcement to, train them with our trauma training. And ive done it many times and i just wanted to on a positive because we are really focused on victims first and virginia especially with ag. So i know a lot of victims do not come forward and your statistic dead on they feel a sense shame and its they dont want to it with anyone so i know a gentleman in high school who this happened to him in the bathroom of the library and he didnt tell anyone so i know this happens to all kinds, but i just wanted to let you know that our, our, our administration is working hard to have a victims first mentality and retrain enforcement to believe you. Thank you. That as good as the last word. And then well talk informally over lunch. Yeah, its not positive. Sorry. A young woman like you leaving class at night and has to endure what did. Mm hmm. Give me the top three things you would tell her as soon. As she shared with you what had happened. I believe you. Thank you for trusting me with your story. And no matter the circumstances. No matter the circumstances, matter what you are wearing. No matter where you are. It is not your fault as, not your fault. Its his fault. Your attackers fault. It was their poor choices. Those are the top three things that i would say. Straight here. Oh, what a great. Thank you so much. We have some gifts for. This one is very appropriate. This hour, limited edition Clare Boothe Luce policy is Clare Boothe Luce for conservative women. Coffee mug what is what was her famous quote . Courage is the ladder on which other virtues nouns. Courage. Right here. Thank you. And i want to give you a copy of my book how to raise a conservative daughter. You are raising wonderful ones. You probably could have written this already, but i want you to know. Take all all wisdom, all thank you so much. Thank you for your talk. Thank you all for coming. And now we can have luncheon, book signing outside. Mary, april oh, wow. John. Its good to be with you today. Im so looking forward to this conversation. Were here to tk about your new book, the anxious generation. I care a lot about adolescence. Im a social scientist, so