Triumphs born of tragedy. (Making A Difference).

October 16th will mark the 12th anniversary of the massacre at Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, during which George Hennard methodically murdered 23 persons and wounded more than 20 others. It was then the worst single-event mass killing in U.S. history. Among the fatalities were the parents of Dr. Suzanna Gratia (now GOP state Representative Suzanna Gratia Hupp). The three were having lunch together.

At the time, Texas law barred average citizens from securing permits to carry concealed firearms. Dr. Hupp, a chiropractor, was licensed to carry a handgun in her car while traveling, and had occasionally carried one elsewhere for self-protection. But she became concerned that, if caught with a concealed gun, she might lose her medical license. So, on the fateful day, she complied with the law by leaving her handgun in her car, then watched helplessly as Hennard, ignoring a plethora of federal and state gun control statutes, gunned down her parents.

Convinced that she could have saved her parents--and perhaps many others--had her gun been readily at hand, Dr. Hupp led a crusade that in 1995 resulted in passage of the state's first conceal-carry law. It allows permits for residents who meet reasonable statewide standards.

In 1996, she was elected to the state legislature. She has been re-elected three times since, and in 2001 was instrumental in achieving passage of legislation that precludes Texas cities from suing firearms manufacturers. Her current pro-gun goals include a bill that would prohibit cities from restricting licensed gun carriers, and one that would tighten open records requirements relating to gun licenses.

A March 3rd Associated Press profile of Hupp noted her increasing legislative influence. Regarding appropriations in the face of a projected $10 million shortfall, the AP observed: "While other frustrated lawmakers tackle the massive budget shortfall they consider to be a hardship, Ms. Hupp sees it as an opportunity to limit state government. And she's vowed to remember during budget hearings those 'fundamental principles of what I believe government is there for.' " She told AP, "As cruel as this sounds, I'm almost grateful for this huge, enormous shortfall at a time when the Republicans are coming into power because frankly it's forcing us to do what people put us in office to do." There are, she acknowledges. "many good programs that help people, but as someone far wiser than I said, 'That behavior that government subsidizes, the government promotes.'" She believes that "government ought to do a very, very few things, and do those things very, very well."

Her parents would undoubtedly be proud of what she has sought to accomplish, and has actually achieved, in pursuit of that objective since October 16, 1991.