“I like the scars because I like the stories. Bravery, stupidity, pain—none of them come free.”

Retired Police Officer Dianna Muller: …my goal here is to educate people.  We are law abiding responsible gun owners.  And please don’t legislate the 150 million people just like me into being criminals.  It has happened, you’ve already done it.  The legislation on bump stocks.  I was a bump-stock owner and I had to make a decision:  Do I become a felon or do I comply?  And like that gentleman that just got escorted out, I will not comply with the assault weapons ban. 

My name is Dianna Muller and I’m an ordinary American.  One who has had different life experiences that bring me here today as a dissenter of any new gun control laws including the assault weapons ban.  After 22 years as a police officer with assignments that included patrols, street crimes, gangs, and narcotics, I retired to focus on a second career as a professional shooter and I’ve had the honor to represent our country on an international stage.

Four years ago, I came to this town as a tourist.  And during a haphazard meeting with my congressman, I asked if there was anything I should be doing to dispel the information about guns and gun owners that’s running rampant on Capitol Hill.  From there the DC Project was born, an educational and non partisan effort of 50 women, one from every state, meeting their legislators as gun owners and Second Amendment supporters.  We are as diverse as any cross-section of America.  Many of our women, like victims of these mass public murders, have endured unspeakable violence themselves or lost loved ones.  Their stories are similar to Kate Nixon’s.  It was reported that Kate knew her co-worker was unstable and felt that he would shoot up the place.  Her husband encouraged her to take a pistol to work but she didn’t want to break the rules.  She followed the policy that was supposed to keep her safe, a gun-free zone, and she was murdered the next day in the Virginia Beach tragedy.  

These laws and policies are taking away a woman’s right to choose.  Gun rights are women’s rights.  That’s why I’m honored to be here today to be a voice for the millions of Americans, American women, who share my ideology but are not represented in mainstream media or squelched on social media.

As a woman, I’m likely smaller and less equipped for violence than an attacker or if I’m outnumbered by people who may do me harm.  My firearm is the great equalizer and levels the playing field.  I married late in life and I spent the majority of my adult life sleeping by myself.  There were so many nights that there were bumps in the night–and I’m sure it’s happened to you guys–but I have a peace because I have a firearm by my side, specifically an AR-15.  I own and carry firearms not to take a life but to protect the life.  I am worth protecting.  My family is worth protecting.  

So, why does anybody need an AR-15?  Let me explain it in shoes.  You wouldn’t run a marathon in dress shoes and you wouldn’t go to a formal ball in sneakers.  Similarly, each of my firearms have a specific purpose.  The AR-15 just falls in the category of that really comfortable dressy shoe that gets called on in many occasions.  It’s my go-to for home defense and vehicle gun.  As a competitor I’ve turned a hobby into a living and my husband hunts with an AR.  The AR-15 platform is the most popular general-purpose rifle because it’s the most versatile and most customizable.  

And freedom doesn’t ask “why the need?” To quote William Pitt the Younger: “Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.” 

For 22 years I enforced the laws you created, and I had a front-row seat to the justice system.  It’s frustrating to see the revolving door where prosecutors reduce or drop charges and judges give minimal sentencing.  I find it ironic in today’s effort of criminal justice reform that you are taking steps to be lenient on people who have actually committed crimes against laws you’ve already created while at the same time proposing more laws that turn ordinary law-abiding citizens, like myself, into criminals.  How about holding the people accountable for the laws that are already on the books before we pass any further legislation that would only be a burden on the law-abiding?  If these laws were the answer Chicago, Baltimore, L.A. and even this city would be the safest city in America.  

The firearm community is #doingsomething.  We are leading the way on meaningful safety measures.  I implore you work with us instead of demonizing us.  Law-abiding American gun owners are not the enemy.  Help our community promote programs like Project ChildSafe, Eddie Eagle GunSafe®, and the KidSafe Foundation that teaches kids about firearm safety.  FASTER Saves Lives and School Shield are school security programs.  And Walk the Talk America is suicide prevention programs.  These are initiatives that are being driven by the firearms industry.  If you really want to make a difference in gun related deaths get behind these programs and fund them, because we believe one life unjustifiably taken is one life too many.  Let’s put firearms education back in schools and start protecting our kids like we protect the people in this building.  Education over legislation.

“I find it ironic in today’s effort of criminal justice reform that you are taking steps to be lenient on people who have actually committed crimes against laws you’ve already created while at the same time proposing more laws that turn ordinary law-abiding citizens, like myself, into criminals.”