Lauren Boebert made waves last fall when she told then-presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke "hell no" he would not be taking away Americans' firearms, a policy the former Texas politician had long-touted. Her defense of the Second Amendment resonated with Americans. And now she's looking at taking her love of freedom and the Constitution to Washington to represent Colorado in Congress.
Boebert is the owner and operator of Shooters Grill in Rifle, a small town in Western Colorado. The restaurant is known for having waitresses that carry firearms while working. But that happened all by chance.
During the 2008 recession, she decided to take a chance and open her restaurant. It was her way of giving back to the small town that she loved.
"I was raised in a Democrat home dependent on the government and I don't want that to happen again. My mom believed the lies of those failed policies by failed Democrat leaders. Our lives were limited because of that. When I saw the government stepping in and taking away the economy here in Western Colorado, with the oil and gas industry, I decided to take a stand and do something for my community to put some people back to work and influence others," Boebert told Townhall.
Shortly after she opened the doors, there was an altercation in town where a man was beaten to death. The new business owner was forced to ask herself how to best protect herself and her staff.
"I'm a mother of four, a new business owner. I didn't have time to go through the red tape of getting a CCW," she explained.
Because of Colorado's Constitutional carry status, meaning residents can legally carry a firearm without a permit, Boebert had the option to protect herself.
"Waitresses began to carry. We have training in place. There's no room for ignorance or carelessness when it comes to firearms," Boebert explained.
It was the young woman's desire to protect the Second Amendment and her confrontation with Beto that lead her to challenge a sitting Republican incumbent. She ended up ousting five-term Rep. Scott Tipton.
"I looked at where I could be most effective for people here in my area. I didn't agree with Tipton's voting record. He ran as conservative but votes alongside Pelosi," Boebert explained. "There's a very clear contrast between me and him. I'm more conservative than him."
"We need conservative values from leaders here in the district. He was no longer a strong voice for us in this district," she said. "I believe if we are silent, we lose by default. With our nearly 10 point victory in the primary, it means the people are tired of D.C. politics."
In a lot of ways, the congressional candidate is the antithesis to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and "the Squad," something Boebert is proud of. Not only did she oust an incumbent of the same party, just like AOC, but she's a Millennial. It's their views, however, that make them different.
"I'm for capitalism and she's a communist," Boebert told Townhall. "People like to compare us because she was a bartender, but I'm a restaurant owner. There are differences. I'm for freedom and prosperity and she is for destruction and chaos by defunding the police and having more government control."