Just a week after Lynne Russell and her husband, Chuck de Caro, survived an armed robbery in a New Mexico motel room when de Caro shot and killed the suspect, the former CNN anchor credited the Second Amendment for saving her life.
“There’s absolutely no doubt that we are alive today […] because of the Second Amendment, because of my husband, his focus and dedication, and the fact that we had that legal gun with us,” Russell told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly Monday.
Russell and de Caro were on a road trip down the historic Route 66 on the way to California when they stopped at a motel. Russell went outside to get something from her car when a man approached her and forced her inside her motel room.
De Caro, who served in the U.S. Special Forces, came out of the bathroom and obscured the view to the couple’s legal handguns, Russell said. The robber grabbed some of their possessions and started shooting, hitting de Caro three times, with two bullets in the abdomen and one in the leg.
De Caro returned fire, shooting and killing the suspect, who was later identified as 27-year-old Tomorio Walton.
Both Russell and de Caro had previously worked in law enforcement. De Caro was also a CNN reporter.
Kelly also asked Russell, “You say you’re sorry the man is dead. Why?”
“Because I’d like to kill him again,” she responded. “I lie in bed and fantasize about all the different ways I could do it.”
Russell and de Caro have long been advocates for the legal possession of guns. The former CNN anchor told Fox411 that, “The discussion over the debate to own a gun is just ridiculous. As Americans we have the right to bear arms and as humans the right to protect ourselves. I’m sure that the man who shot my husband did not have a gun permit. Criminals will always have guns. The rest of us legally obtain our gun permits.”
Russell added, “If you don’t want to carry, please don’t. Then, shut the f–k up about it. Make your own decisions.”
According to Russell, de Caro is still recuperating from his injuries in a New Mexico hospital and isn’t expected to be released for a few more weeks.
Watch the full interview here.