The debate over the right to carry a concealed weapon on college campuses in Colorado likely wouldn’t have caused more than a ripple if it hadn’t been for state Rep. Joe Salazar’s caution that women might “pop a round at somebody” if they mistakenly felt threatened. Democrat Fox News contributor Bob Beckel doubled down on the stupid by suggesting campus rapes don’t happen, or at least he hadn’t heard about it. In the meantime, campus guidelines suggested women vomit or fake a disease to avert an assault.
At a hearing tonight, though, several female students testified in support of House Bill 1226, which would outlaw concealed carry on campus, telling legislators they’d feel less safe. Some even echoed Beckel’s “Are you supposed to shoot your date rapist?” quandary.
First five testimonies on bill regarding concealed carry on campuses are women
— Alison Noon (@AlisonNoon) March 5, 2013
@alisonnoon in favor of concealed carry?
— Brittany Anas (@BrittanyAnas) March 5, 2013
@BrittanyAnas All support HB1226, which would ban concealed carry on campuses. And make that seven
— Alison Noon (@AlisonNoon) March 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/ismollyf/status/308756780031291392
Sara Heisdoffer up now in support of 1226. Metro student, but started at CSU #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
Heisdorffer: "I do not want to carry a weapon. I should not have to carry a weapon in order to feel safe" #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
Heisdorffer: Concealed weapons are not a logical solution to preventing sexual assault. #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
Sanders: "A learning environment is no place for weaponry…the classroom is not a warzone, a firing range, a hunting ground" #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
Sanders: "There is no need for firearms in a controlled environment such as school" #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
Recommended
CU Boulder Junior: Rape victims are more likely to know their attackers than not #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
CU Boulder Junior: Please vote yes on HB1226 so that I can feel safe on my campus #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
Stein: "The fact is, increased gun ownership leads to increased gun violence." #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
Stein: In 8 out of 10 cases of sexual assault, the victim knew their perpetrator – whether it be their intimate partner, friend, etc #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
Stein: Talk of rape may evoke images of strangers in ski masks – but real life experience in college paints different picture #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
Love these women are making the point that most rapists are men women know. Guns won't help in those situations, they do more harm. #coleg
— Jen Caltrider (@caltrider) March 5, 2013
Tolu Obiwole, UCD first-year, up now in support of HB1226 #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
Obiwole: As a student, I expect my university to be a safe community w/ an environment that is conducive to learning #coleg
— Lizzy Stephan (@lizzystephan) March 5, 2013
I'm testifying in support of HB1226 #coleg
— krystal lea (@krystallea1) March 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/skewesey/status/308724396657344512
https://twitter.com/skewesey/status/308740850433802240
https://twitter.com/skewesey/status/308741189308411904
https://twitter.com/skewesey/status/308747399369719808
Witness testifies: "I feel better when the (campus) police have guns and my angry student doesn't." #coleg
— Lynn Bartels (@lynn_bartels) March 5, 2013
Not every woman testifying was on board with the concealed carry ban, though.
"A gun free zone rendered me helpless." Moving testimony from rape survivor testifying against 1226 #coleg
— Colorado Senate GOP (@ColoSenGOP) March 5, 2013
Amanda Collins, who was raped at gunpoint in a campus “safe zone,” was in attendance.
I dont think Sen Hudak ever looked at her the entire time Amanda Collins testified about being raped on campus. pic.twitter.com/rQxG1vYG8J
— Laurie Bratten (@llbratten) March 5, 2013
Rape survivor tells her story of survival and pleads for the right to cary concealed on campus #NoGunFreeZones #2A #cogungrab #coleg
— Jennifer Raiffie (@jraiffie) March 5, 2013
Rape survivor asks how does making defenseless protect you from violence? #coleg #cogungrab #2A
— Jennifer Raiffie (@jraiffie) March 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/HawlyGolightly/status/308776443989602305
Sen. Hudak to rape survivor who wanted right to defend herself: Sorry, "the stats were not in your favor" #coleg #TerribleHumanBeing
— Rocky Mountain Right (@RockyMtnRight) March 5, 2013
Really?
https://twitter.com/joshuasharf/status/308776629579169792
@SenHudak did you really tell a rape survivor stats are not on her side? One woman raped is one too many #guncontrolhurtswomen
— HumanNature (@S3CURITYBR3ACH) March 5, 2013
So, who’s ready for some “false hysteria”?
Really?? Sen. Hudak reportedly told a rape survivor who wanted to defend herself "sorry the stats weren't in your favor." #COleg
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) March 5, 2013
Cue the faux hysteria from the right in 3-2-1… @DLoesch, did you see the video of the testimony? Hudak was simply stating a fact. #coleg
— Jen Caltrider (@caltrider) March 5, 2013
Fact: Progressives have no problem with ignorant remarks on rape. #COleg
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) March 5, 2013
Editor’s note: The headline of this post has been updated to correctly reflect Sen. Hudak’s remarks as transcribed from the video.