I want to know if any of these suicides were by gun. It seems relevant and I have not seen detail one way or the other in any of the coverage. The cult of the gun is strong in this country. I recall a Parkland parent going to bat for the NRA days after losing a child.
The need to justify one’s own choices is a strong one. If one keeps guns and loses a child to gun violence, one will not automatically start seeing the world clearly and get rid of the guns. Many people will dig in because to admit to themselves that they have been on the wrong side of the issue that led to their child’s death is just too much. Sadly, if they also keep their guns as a result, their likelihood of suicide during such a difficult time is greatly increased.
I recall that President Obama cried when he talk about the Sandy Hook deaths and he was mocked for his genuine display of grief. We no longer expect a sincere expression of grief but must be content with “warm condolences” and thanks to first responders.
I’ve worked on gun violence prevention for 20 years and have seen that for every shooting victim, there at at least 10 family and community members impacted. Every birthday, holiday, graduation, wedding, etc. that never was becomes a trigger for pain, trauma, grief, and depression, causing loved ones to experience acute feelings of loss all over again. The numbers–30,000 gun deaths per year, 12,000 gun homicides–don’t even begin to the tell the story of the toll.
I wish they would stop using the phrase "committed suicide ". It’s not committing a crime, it’s not arson or robbery. He didn’t murder himself. He died by suicide. Show some understanding.
Instead of the mad rush to “harden” schools hiring a counselor or two might have prevented this suicide the two Parkland ones and possibly future shootings.
Newtown was one of our most horrible tragedies. Let’s place the blame where it should be placed. Why would any responsible parent who has a disturbed child provide the child with access to guns? Why would you take him to a gun range and allow him to become proficient in the use of weapons? Heck, we have laws against drug use. How have they worked? We’re setting records for opiate deaths. We have laws against drunk driving, yet we have thousands of deaths each year. Should we ban cars? Now we want to make recreational marijuana use available. Great move. That’s right, under 21 and you can’t get the marijuana. Phew, good thing we will have that in place. That law works well with alcoholic beverages so no kids drink under 21. Stop blaming politicians all the time for your weaknesses. It needs to start at home. Parents need to become parents, not their kids “friend”.
My niece who lives in Utah lost her daughter to suicide by gun. She was newly married, had five siblings and loving parents. Here’s her tombstone, notice how young she was. None of them are over it.
It doesn’t get talked about enough. My goddaughter’s best friend killed herself with her parents’ shotgun when she was 17. My goddaughter has only just gotten over it and she’s in her 30s now.
Rose had tried suicide a couple of times and failed (she was adopted and her real mother was a druggie who abused her terribly and so lots of emotional problems). The young man she married had a gun, it’s Utah after all, he kept it in a safe, somehow she got the combo to the safe and did the deed.
He did. But they were all adults who had obviously thought about it quite a bit.
When a gun is readily available it’s too easy just to pick it up in an emotional whirlwind and use it. That’s how people also lose their faces but survive and I don’t know which is worse.
I know a woman who shot her face off with a shotgun. She’s totally blind and helpless now.
I can only hope that this ends it but unfortunately in these kinds of situations, it feeds others to respond in the same manner.
Sadly we virtually allow these mass murders to continue, and on top accuse the dead, their families, and anyone situated with where or how, and leave these people without any support, mental or otherwise to deal with the situtation on thier own.
