Newtown Shooting Parent: ‘You Will Take My Ability To Protect My Victoria From My Cold Dead Hands!’

After the first reports of a shooter at the Sandy Hook Elementary School were received by officials at nearby Reed Intermediate School, Victoria Stevens’ classroom was placed in lock-down. Although Victoria’s school was not attacked, her classmate’s little sister was murdered during Adam Lanza’s horrifying rampage. Recently, Victoria’s father, Bill Stevens, was asked to testify at the Gun Violence Hearings in the Connecticut State Capitol and his comments certainly upset advocates of strict gun control. Stevens voiced his strong support for the Second Amendment and the right of law abiding American citizen’s to own guns to defend their homes and family. Unlike the Newtown parents who spoke in favor of the Assault Weapon Ban, Stevens’ testimony was ignored by the mainstream media.

Bill Stevens is not the only Newtown parent to testify in support of the Second Amendment. Mark Mattioli, who lost his son James at the hands of Newtown shooter Adam Lanza, also spoke against adding more restrictive laws to limit gun ownership. Mattioli chastised lawmakers for not enforcing laws already on the books and spoke about the need for better parenting and civil behavior. He testified that people must be held accountable for their actions instead of finding an endless list of reasons to excuse anti-social conduct.

Mr. Stevens began by pointing out that government officials in the State Capitol benefited from the very protections the anti-gun legislation would deny the average citizen. He reminded everyone listening that security for schools was “quite different from the elaborate security you all enjoy here at the Capitol.” Driving home his point, he added with a touch of sarcasm, “It was fun getting frisked on the way in.”

Stevens expressed his dismay over the testimony of some of the other witnesses at the hearings. He reminded the audience that our rights, as defined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, were granted by our creator and they are the birthright of all Americans.

“These rights are inalienable and are endowed by our Creator, not you politicians, to all citizens regardless of gender, race., or creed. There is due process, legislation is not due process. You want to take my rights away, let’s go to court.”

Quoting from the Connecticut State Constitution, Stevens said “There’s no registration, There’s no permitting. There’s no background checks. It’s quite clear.”

SEC. 15. Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.

SEC. 16. The military shall, in all cases, and at all times, be in strict subordination to the civil power.

The audience in attendance erupted in applause as Stevens spoke in support of the Constitution. Continuing his testimony, Stevens then addressed the rush to pass new and restrictive gun laws before all the facts are known. He pointed out that the hearings on Sandy Hook and gun violence have just begun and the conclusions will not be known before late summer.

Critics of the Assault Weapon Ban of 2013 have been making the same point since Diane Feinstein submitted the bill when the Senate reconvened in January of 2013. Much has been said about the speed at which the bill was delivered, yet the Senate has been unable to pass a budget for three years, as required by law. They wonder if the Assault Weapon Bill is like the Obamacare, which Nancy Pelosi told Americans they could read after it was passed.

As he testified, Mr. Stevens focused on his right to defend his home and his daughter Victoria. He spoke emotionally about the cold December morning when Adam Lanza burst into the Sandy Hook Elementary School and murdered 20 students and six teacher in cold blood:

“Unfortunately, her friend’s little sister was murdered in Sandy Hook that day when lock-down and 911 were not enough to protect her from an evil person. Not protect her from an assault rifle or some type of inanimate object, but from an evil person.”

Stevens then told everyone listening that he will never surrender the right to protect his child:

“My guns are not dangerous. They are at home, locked up, collecting dust and cat hair. But criminals and tyrants, tyrants especially, beware, ‘lock down’ is not an option at the Stevens’ residence and 911 will be dialed after the security of my home has been established!

“Why is that same security that my daughter enjoys at home with her dad not available at school in Newtown? That is what you should be considering, not making her dad a criminal.

“Charleton Heston made the phrase, ‘From my cold dead hands’ famous,” And I will tell you here today, you will take my ability to protect my Victoria from my cold dead hands!”

Pounding his fist on the witness table for emphasis, Bill Stevens rose and exited the hearing. Despite the applause from the audience, the national media has made little effort to report on Mr. Stevens’ courageous defense of the Constitution. More the shame, for when we ignore law aiding citizens who speak in defense of gun ownership and the Constitution, we begin to surrender our freedom.