Mod: Please delete me before the firestorm

[SithSolo1]

I should have known posting this would turn into a gun control thread. Just gonna nip it in the bud before it gets that far.

Life lessons:

Talk to your friends, you never know when they may be gone.

If you own a gun, whether you live alone or with others, please think about storing it in a locked box or maybe put a trigger lock on it.

Back story:

My best friend from HS committed suicide Friday. He used a hand gun he had take from a roommate's room while the roommate was sleeping.

We had talked on the phone within the last week and were even txting hours before it happened, he seemed perfectly fine. Nobody saw it coming. I don't blame the roommate or anyone else. I'm not saying locking the gun up could have prevented it though less easy access may have deterred him. It could have easily ended another way.

I'm not against guns or people owning them, just think about planning for scenarios you never thought would happen.

RIP buddy, I'll see you again someday you silly bastard.





[Locked at OP's request


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[Ichinisan]

Kinda defeats the purpose of having a firearm in your home. If the gun was locked away, and you woke up with an intruder in the room...what do you do?

 

[Pardus]

Guns don't kill people. Stupid people who use them do.

 

[brblx]

yeah, because if he couldn't find a gun, it's not like there are any other ways to kill yourself.

PSA: destroy all bridges and chemicals with a known lethal dosage.

 

[CPA]

sorry to hear about your best friend. And without trying to sound like a jerk, you are blaming the roommate if you are asking him to keep his stuff locked up.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Here guns MUST be double locked. That means you need to have 2 locks to get to it. Most people will get a gun safe and put a trigger lock. A gun safe in a locked room is also acceptable. In a vehicle, it has to be locked and out of sight, and doors locked.

I can't see why anyone would NOT do this. Self defense? By the time you get to your gun, it's probably too late. Perp will either eye you through the window if the curtains are open and shoot from outside, or perp will smash through window very fast and shoot you and anything else that moves, then they'll take your stuff. A gun wont save you from another gun. I laugh how people will get like 30 guns and think they are safer. You can't shoot them all at once.

 

[Baked]

Every individual, no matter how selfish it may sound, has control over their own life.

 

[brblx]

Every individual, no matter how selfish it may sound, has control over their own life.

not really. but ignoring an accident or terminal illness, they generally have control over the termination of it. and as stated, there are many ways to end it.

only way i remotely agree with the OP is if someone is literally not sane. then it's like leaving a gun unlocked around a child. but to think a cable lock or something is going to keep someone from killing themselves...i mean, come on.

 

[SithSolo1]

not really. but ignoring an accident or terminal illness, they generally have control over the termination of it. and as stated, there are many ways to end it.

only way i remotely agree with the OP is if someone is literally not sane. then it's like leaving a gun unlocked around a child. but to think a cable lock or something is going to keep someone from killing themselves...i mean, come on.

You're completely right. He could have used a knife, pills, a rope, a cliff, or any other number of things that I can't even think of atm. I completely understand the reasoning behind keeping an unlocked firearm. All I said was think about it.

 

[Ichinisan]

You're completely right. He could have used a knife, pills, a rope, a cliff, or any other number of things that I can't even think of atm. I completely understand the reasoning behind keeping an unlocked firearm. All I said was think about it.

Carbon monoxide. Why do people even consider anything else?

 

[olds]

...

I can't see why anyone would NOT do this. Self defense? By the time you get to your gun, it's probably too late. Perp will either eye you through the window if the curtains are open and shoot from outside, or perp will smash through window very fast and shoot you and anything else that moves, then they'll take your stuff. A gun wont save you from another gun. I laugh how people will get like 30 guns and think they are safer. You can't shoot them all at once.

I've read some pretty ignorant things here at AT but this might be one of the top 2 or 3.

 

[AMCRambler]

I've got a trigger lock on mine but if someone was determined they could drill that out pretty easily. Don't blame your friend, it's not his fault.

 

[brblx]

All I said was think about it.

hence the 'debate.' what did you expect?

 

[Ronstang]

If he wouldn't have been able to get a gun he could have just found a tall building or bridge to jump from. If someone wants to kill themselves no one is going to stop them. The method is irrelevant.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Sorry to hear about your friend

 

[PieIsAwesome]

Carbon monoxide. Why do people even consider anything else?

Because it could kill other people. The brother of a family friend was killed by a guy in the garage committing suicide in this manner.

If you want to kill yourself, please be responsible and ensure that you do not harm anyone else.

 

[Azraele]

Someone's friend is dead. Those that want to make it a debate, this is not the thread for it. Sorry to hear of your loss.

 

[GundamW]

Sorry for your loss OP.

Guns should always be trigger locked and stored out of sight and/or in a locked box.
The gun owner might be trained to handle the gun but there is always the chance that someone else gets a hand on it and does unexpected thing.