Suicide by gun

With all of the recent discussion about guns in America, I had to reflect on the concept of owning a gun for the purpose of protection. When I was still living at home with my parents, my father purchased a small caliber handgun, and I think it was for protection, though I never asked him. I don’t recall him ever using the gun for target practice or anything else. It was stored in a top dresser drawer, unloaded, alongside a box of ammunition.

Years after I had moved out of the house, my mother, age 59, went to the top dresser drawer, retrieved the gun, along with a couple of bullets, went into her bathroom and used the gun to protect herself from any further suffering from her chronic depression.

Seven years later, my father went to the drawer, and took the gun into the same bathroom to protect himself from the unbearable loneliness.

Since depression can be hereditary, I have consciously decided never to own a gun in order to avoid the temptation to protect myself from the harsh realities of life. I feel much safer having made that decision.

Daniel Schaffer, MD

Spokane