I had a review scheduled for today, like I almost always do during the week. However, I have to get something off my chest because it has been bothering me for a few days now. First, some backstory.
On Saturday, a local teacher and coach committed suicide. He was in his car which was surrounded by the police and less than two blocks from our home. This is what makes this particular story so disturbing. The kids were home alone, as Jim and I were out with friends. The entire street and our cul-de-sac were shut down for hours because of this.
It turns out that the teacher had been brought into the police department earlier that day for questioning regarding potential inappropriate relationships with minors. After he left the police department, he drove to a local sporting goods store and purchased a 9mm gun along with ammunition and walked out with it twenty-five minutes later. At some point in time, he left a suicide note for his wife, who alerted the police. They then were on the lookout for him and just happened to find him in our neighborhood.
There are so many things wrong with this entire situation that I don’t know whether to feel relief, sadness, concern, or pure anger. Yes, if the allegations are true, the teacher had issues and should have faced the consequences of his actions. However, he left behind a young wife and kids. Plus he taught special education for emotionally and behaviorally disabled teens, none of whom were his alleged victims. There are no easy answers for his actions, and I think that what has me most emotionally conflicted.
However, the gun situation is something that leaves me blisteringly angry. This man, obviously emotionally distraught after being questioned by the police for a few hours about some serious allegations, was not only able to buy a gun with the necessary ammunition, he was able to walk out of the freaking store with said gun in less than 30 minutes. And this is LEGAL. That’s right. Legal. Because our idiotic Republican-led state legislature passed a new law last June that ended the forty-eight hour waiting period for gun purchases, which our even more idiotic governor, former presidential candidate Scott Walker, signed into law. What’s even worse is at the time this new law went into effect, there are only nine states who still have the waiting period law. Holy fucking shit.
I don’t get it. I do not understand how rational people can think that allowing such easy access to guns is protecting our second amendment. I do not get why this is even an issue given how much violence there is on the streets, in our schools, in our homes, in our world. When the hell did it become okay to purchase a dangerous weapon as easily as it is to purchase a pair of shoes or a new car? Hell, it is more difficult to buy a house than it is to purchase a gun!! When all pro-gun activists started blaming healthcare for all of the gun violence, did they forget that allowing people time to rethink their actions and cool off a bit would increase a person’s chances of getting help?
Honestly, what will it take for the country to realize that the loudest gun proponents, namely the NRA, do not have the country’s best interest at heart. They do not even have a person’s best interest at heart. In fact, they don’t give a rat’s ass about the second amendment. Most of them are in league with the gun and ammo companies to help drive their sales. As long as they continue to receive kickbacks and other benefits from the gun companies’ profits each year, they will continue to spout the same antiquated, illogical bullshit about the right to bear arms. That’s right. Just like everything else in this world, money makes the world go round and the amount of money thrown around to protect gun manufacturers and sellers is abso-fucking-lutely ridiculous.
Was this teacher a bad person? The ongoing investigation will tell; I am not here to judge his actions prior to Saturday. Did he have a right to commit suicide? Sure. It is not illegal to commit suicide (I had to double-check this). He had every right to take his own life no matter what we think about it. Did we as a society have to make it so easy for him to do so? No. In that regard, we failed this man and we failed him badly. By making it so easy for him to obtain a gun, when he was so obviously upset and facing serious trouble, we prevented him from getting the mental help he needed. This is not healthcare’s fault. This is society’s fault. Plain and simple.
You said it. It’s ridiculous- people can tout about how people will get guns no matter what, and while that’s true, we shouldn’t make it easy for them. People will rape and kill no matter what, BUT WE SHOULDN’T MAKE IT EASY. I don’t understand why gun-proponents aren’t all for stricter gun laws.
If the gun laws are stricter and it still doesn’t prevent anything, you were right along. If gun laws are stricter and it does prevent or discourage or just make gun violence more difficult, people are potentially saved and fun violence lessens. It’s a win-win situation to make guns more difficult to obtain, especially doing so with at least a waiting period and a background check.
*gun violence. Not fun violence.
Exactly. Common sense goes a long way in this argument, which is frightening when you consider just how many people seem to have taken leave of their senses when it comes to gun ownership.
What a sad, horrible story. Seriously though, in what circumstance could someone need a gun IMMEDIATELY? (Other than a zombie apocalypse, obvi.) Like, hunting or “family protection” or whatever can’t be accomplished if a 48 hour waiting period is in place? How is it EVER a bad idea to have someone cool the eff off before putting a deadly weapon in their hands? I just don’t get it. (I personally hate guns to the very marrow of my being and would love to see some super strict laws, but I’m realistic enough to know that’s not a thing that will happen. However. A waiting period just seems like super obvious common sense.)
Exactly. Common sense would dictate that everything you say should be true. However, when it comes to the issue of gun ownership, common sense tends to not exist. I don’t understand why either.
I think Massachusetts must still have the waiting period, but I’ll have to check! I agree with you completely that there’s really no good reason anyone should need to have a gun right away. If you don’t have three days to plan the purchase, then there’s something irrational going on.
If Massachusetts does still have the waiting period, they are one of nine states left who does. That number floors me and scares me. Combine that with those states who have the carry and conceal law, and I am genuinely afraid for our society.
That really is so terrible about him. His poor family. That being said, I steadfastly agree with you about the gun situation. Our state (Tennessee) recently tried to propose a bill to get rid of Tennessee’s requirement to obtain state-issued permits to carry handguns in public. Thank goodness it failed in a Senate committee.
I am so over the gun advocacy in this country. I certainly understand your anger.
There are people in Tennessee who don’t think permits are necessary? Holy cripes! What is it about gun ownership that has people losing what little common sense they may have had?!
It is time to elect all new people and get these idiots out of power!
Preach it! It’s ridiculous that anyone thinks they need to be able to have a gun immediately. And this man is not the only man who is dead because he was able to access a gun before he had time to think. Given his situation, he may have done the same thing 48 hours later. But we’ll never know now.
You are correct. For this one person, there are so many others who were able to make a similar ash and drastic decision without time to truly consider the consequences. Yes, his decision may have been the same after the waiting period, but for his family’s sake, he should have still been forced to wait.
How sad is this story. I am not American and the first thing I said was what happened to the wait time, holy smokes, I didn’t realize that was lifted. Wow Wow Wow
Government definitely let him down, so very sad.
It will be hard for many to separate the stories unfortunately.
You are absolutely correct about not being able to separate the two stories. My husband is already guilty of not being able to separate the two. Both are unfortunate, but one I can take action through contacting my government representatives and the other one I can only hope the victims are able to recover.
Honestly, I did not know the mandatory waiting period was lifted either. I have a feeling this was a piece of legislation that was tucked into something else. Either way, it is time to raise a ruckus about it.
The ease of purchasing a gun (legally) varies by state, and I am quite happy that California has some of the strictest laws and regulations about it. (I’m sure they’re flouted often, but at least they exist.) We still have a five-day waiting period, as referenced in an episode of The Simpsons when Homer wanted to buy a gun:
“Five days? But I’m mad now!”
And that’s just one reason why waiting periods and background checks are, at the very least, good common sense.
My husband enjoys target shooting and is skilled at it–it’s been a hobby since long before we met, and we agree to disagree about it. He refuses to join the NRA or sign on to anything they support, and we totally agree about that.
Your anger is absolutely justified, Michelle–and very well said!
Thanks, Florinda. Make no mistake. We have owned guns in the past. The kids and I have all gone target shooting. I am okay with gun ownership. I don’t think people need an arsenal, but that is a different topic. I have no idea why people feel that removing the waiting period was a good idea, and this event just proves that it is not.
What a horrible story in so many ways. I am so angry about so many aspects of what led to this. We have to get these clowns out of office.
Exactly.
What an all around horrible story. Heartbreaking and rage inducing. I don’t even have words for my feelings about Scott Walker honestly.
Scott is an ass. We just need a viable candidate to kick him out of office and be done with his nonsense. He’s done a great job of making this state horrible.
I’m not sure how I feel about the suicide aspect of this story but what you said, about him being distraught and able to walk out with a loaded weapon in just 30 min blows my mind. If he was angry at someone… he could have easily gone after a person with that weapon he legally purchased. In this case, I supposed others were lucky and he decided to just take himself out. But can you imagine? This could have been worse.
I hope your kids weren’t too upset over it happening so close to home.
Oh, I am all sorts of conflicted about the suicide itself, so I understand your uncertainty. I can imagine how much worse it could have been. It keeps me up at night.
I don’t think Holly knows what happened. Connor knows the police blocked off the street, but I’m not certain he knows why. He may have looked up the story on the Internet. Jim and I have an silent pact not to discuss it with them. They have already had to deal with the death of a teacher and, for Connor, the suicide of a fellow student this year.
I AM SO PROUD OF YOUUUUU! I have so many things to say on this issue, and you already know what they are. I can only say that I am so sorry this happened so close to you, and I am so sorry for the state of the world in which we live. Stephanie nailed it when she wrote: People can deal with the government infringing on their privacy rights and with not having the right to health care, a decent education, or whatever issues they might be facing. But, Lord, don’t even talk about regulating their personal arsenal. FUCK THAT!
Thanks, Andi! It is just something I cannot stop thinking about. I will be writing to my congressman and senator – state and federal – about this. At least then I can say that I am taking action instead of ranting about it.
Holy crap–what a horrible story. 🙁 What an awful thing for this man’s family and community. And if he’d just had another day or two to assimilate the situation, he might’ve found a path forward.
I agree with you on every point. There is no conscionable excuse for not maintaining a 48-hour waiting period, and it is not even close to the spirit of the Second Amendment. It’s political pandering.
I think guns should be treated like motor vehicles. It’s fine to own one, if you feel it’s necessary, and it’s fine to use one, as long as you harm no one, but you have to jump through some legal hoops, including training in proper use, safety, relevant laws, etc. If you can’t be bothered to take “gun owners ed,” pass the test, and get your license, maybe you don’t need a gun that badly.
If I were a politician, I’d be tarred and feathered for saying that. People can deal with the government infringing on their privacy rights and with not having the right to health care, a decent education, or whatever issues they might be facing. But, Lord, don’t even talk about regulating their personal arsenal.
For the record, we own guns. Not really my cup of tea, but my husband collects them, he keeps them locked up, and I’m fine with it. Since he’s a cop, he’s definitely had the training. 🙂
We have had a gun or two in the house as well; my husband was in the military, so he too knows how to use them. We have even taken the kids to shooting ranges so they can develop an appreciation for their danger and learn gun safety firsthand. I do not get the all-or-nothing mentality that people have on this topic. You are absolutely correct about politicians and people’s reactions to this issue.
Agreed: This is totally unacceptable. I don’t understand the logic behind it. I know some gun-owners who believe there should be lots of background checks and waits and registration etc before you can take home a gun. This seems like an acceptable middle ground if guns MUST be available (something that still bothers me, personally). But this easy access, and access sometimes to assault weapons…no. I grew up in a super-violent neighborhood. The fact that people could get guns so easily was TERRIFYING. That access DEFINITELY made the neighborhood more violent, not more safe.
Beyond that, I’m so sorry that this happened so close to your home. Take care of yourself, and your family. *hugs*
Having this happen so close to home was disturbing enough. I cannot imagine growing up in a neighborhood were violence on this scale was a common occurrence. I agree that waiting periods and background checks, mandatory registration and education classes, etc. are a great middle ground. We are not saying no to guns, just that there should not be free and immediate access to them.
My mother’s boyfriend did the same thing, w/r/t being depressed (following her death), walking into a gun store, driving down the street, and blowing his head off. If even there had been a waiting period someone might have been able to talk to him or get him on anti-depressants or whatever. And maybe in the end he would have preferred to be dead. But as you say, it was way too easy for him not to even think about it. Personally, I do not think the Second Amendment protects the right to commit suicide. It is, after all, the only Bill of Rights amendment preceded by a qualifier, i.e., “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State,. . . “
I agree completely. The Second Amendment does not protect the right to commit suicide, but it certainly makes it a hell of a lot easier to take your own life.