inherited a completely unwanted firearm yesterday

[Streetstar]

Received a phone call from an Army buddies wife --- she asked me to come over and retrieve his sidearm -- he could no longer be trusted with it

Thinking he may have flipped out and pulled it on somebody, i drove over and she met me in the driveway and gingerly presented me with a Glock 23 wrapped in a towel

I told her, - i really dont need any guns, and suggested she purchase a small safe and stow it in the attic, but she said she doesnt want it anywhere near the house and that guns frightened her and if i tossed it in the lake, it would be fine with her

Evidently the moron got passout drunk and left an un-secured loaded and chambered pistol in the pencil drawer of the family computer desk and his 12 year old daughter and her friend found it (evidently he hadn't educated his family properly about how to deal with such things either -- another lesson)

So this was yesterday ---

So naturally, i called him this morning and had some suggestions ready on how the "man of the house" should educate his family about these things, -- and also how he should exercise a bit more responsibility about letting others get access to his weapon accidentally, family members or not (plus to work out a strategy on getting it back to him)

----- He said, "just keep it" -- then divulges that he has seizures occasionally from a service related injury that have been getting progressively worse and he said he is starting to "see things" anyway (excess alcohol use will do that i imagine )

I just told him to get himself squared away and if he ever can, his sidearm is in the gun safe and will be ready to go (i'll never shoot it myself, but will hold it indefinitely ) ---

Sadly - i doubt that will ever happen again --- another one of my Army buddies seems to be about to start his slide towards the grave , but i'm trying to be optimistic

Such a waste of talent --- i thank the doctors wholeheartedly for over-prescribing prescription painkillers but my friend has accountability in the mess he made for himself too


---- just venting fellas,
On a firearm related side, the Glock 23 seems to be kind of a handy size for such things --- i have 2 10mm Glocks (thats as far as my Glock interest goes, - as a cheap hurler of 10mil ammo) -- that dwarf this thing --- My 29 is close in size, but with a much beefier grip frame -- the 23 seems kinda' handy

[Ysabel Kid]

Sorry to hear about that. Wih your subject line, I was wondering how anyone could inherent a "unwanted firearm" other than from a bad situation. This certainly qualifies.

[jnyork]

Sorry to hear of your friend's condition, doesn't sound good. You handled the situation perfectly, as did his wife for that matter, loaded gun in that house being a recipe for disaster .

[FWiedner]

Sorry to hear about your friends downhill slide.

There are certainly some household firearms safety matters that bear discussion, but in this case no one was injured, and the guy didn't do anything crazy like discharging the firearm in the house in a fit of drunken rage or threatening his wife and kids.

Frankly, I see this as an over-reaction on every front.

[horsesoldier03]

Sorry to hear of the circumstances, but I am glad they got the gun out of the house before it was too late!

Alot of folks get up in arms when VETS lose their gun rights, however, Mental Illness is defiantely a disqualifier IMO when it comes to responsible gun ownership.

[Streetstar]

Frankly, I see this as an over-reaction on every front.

I whole heartedly agree ---------- I also agree with Horsesoldier that wild mood fluctuations, binge and blackout alcoholism , and things like that means we (not the collective we necessarilly) need to take another look at our retired soldiers (this guy is only 43 y/o )

This guy's pill regimen resembles my dad's when he was fighting cancer --- jeez .
I've heard it about our youth too --- when the youth complain about a problem or an ache or a pain --- bam, - they get a scrip. It seems thats the way the local VA has been treating my comrade for the past 5 or 6 years

During the course of my job (sub contract insurance adjuster with primary client being USAA) -- i have met several disabled vets in my age bracket roughly who have told me the same tales --
--- i should not get so personal at my job, but i'm a talker , and i generally like people, so thats what talkers do

--- We can't fix everyone - and lord knows, the stories i have heard (and even experienced with family members) about screwed up Vietnam era and Korean era vets are heart wrenching, --- but i guess it hits a bit different when its someone my own age who i thought was somewhat bulletproof

[piller]

Bummer!

[Pete44ru]

.

There, but for the grace of God, go I.....................

Your buddy, and especially his family, will be in my prayers.



.

[Bill in Oregon]

Is there no one who can advocate for him with the VA, or at least the local vet center? This kind of slow-motion accident is hard to watch.

[TedH]

Sorry to hear of your friend's condition, doesn't sound good. You handled the situation perfectly, as did his wife for that matter, loaded gun in that house being a recipe for disaster .

+1

[Griff]

I watched this once with a friend, also a VN vet... I finally gave him the attention he seemingly desired... with my fists... he's no longer my friend... but he straightened up, and that's good enough for me. Had another that committed suicide. It's all tough to deal with... I'm thankful for my circumstance (and it ain't real good), every time I visit a VA facility.

Navy & VA medicated me for back injury for a few years... I finally had enough... the pain's better than the loss of... control.

[.45colt]

Pete Wrote;"There, but for the grace of God, go I....................." +1...Sorry about Your Friend, I Pray He can get help....... We have an old Friend, a Retired Police Officer,never a Drinker. He had a series of mini strokes that has compromised Him terribly. not yet 70. I dread the day when I hear they have to take away His Firearms.

[FatJackDurham]

The fact that he told you to keep it is a sign.

Here in VT, a Vet who slowly slid out of control finally snapped and attacked his wife and family. He was shot in self defense by his teenage daughter.

I don't think it's an over reaction. Better safe than sorry.

[firefuzz]

Terribly sad situation. But the wife made a wise decision and you're a good friend. Hopefully things will improve for your buddy.

Rob

[Mescalero]

I had my friends guns when he died 'same deal, vet, no family, he could not be trusted with them anymore.
That is what makes my gun situation so real to me.
At least I knew what to do with his stuff, when I go; there is no one.

[2LT Van Cott]

I think you're doing the right thing.

We are all losing too many of our friends to such things, or so it seems to me.

[Streetstar]

Thanks guys for the words of support --- sounds like more than a few of you have been down this road before for whatever reason


--- I just wake up every morning and thank my savior that i still have good health and reasonably good mental faculties (most days -- i can get a bit scatterbrained during busy times of the year, but i think thats normal)

[horsesoldier03]

Just be careful if he ever does ask for it back, he may have made a decision and is prepared to finalize his fate!

[FWiedner]

I'm sure the woman is a loving wife who is simply trying to protect her family, and I feel for the guy because of his health problems.

He may need to get his head together, but IMO, that I'm not so sure that woman shouldn't be put out the door on her can for sneakin' around behind his back giving his stuff away and talking him down to the neighbors like he's crazy or some kind of loser just because he's got his issues. She's obviously already sucked away his self-confidence.

This is where anti-gun liberalism has it's roots... When people start making plans and being smug behind other people's backs, because they're sure they know what's best for someone else.

The first thing to do is make sure that the scary man is unarmed and 'safe'.

[Streetstar]

I'm sure the woman is a loving wife who is simply trying to protect her family, and I feel for the guy because of his health problems.

He may need to get his head together, but IMO, that I'm not so sure that woman shouldn't be put out the door on her can for sneakin' around behind his back giving his stuff away and talking him down to the neighbors like he's crazy or some kind of loser just because he's got his issues. She's obviously already sucked away his self-confidence.

This is where anti-gun liberalism has it's roots... When people start making plans and being smug behind other people's backs, because they're sure they know what's best for someone else.

The first thing to do is make sure that the scary man is unarmed and 'safe'.

Trust me, I've also thought these thoughts too. Therein lies the dilemna. Not that it did much good, but i tried to remind the woman that my buddy earned his and his familie's living with firearms at the ready for years.

If he wants to pull a "goodbye cruel world". -- another firearm would be relatively easy to come across
I'll respect the wifes wishes , but i am amazed at the different opinion i have now of this woman i have known fot 20 years than i had 3 or 4 days ago ------ but its my bud's fault ultimately for not educating his family properly long ago------- she acted like a firearm was an alien, foreign thing that needed to be gingerly wrapped in a towel and disposed of. Get the bad thing away,