I remember that nauseating feeling that overtook me in December of 2012 when I learned that 20 innocents and six of their educators had been murdered in a gun free zone in Connecticut.
I also remember how ferociously — and in my opinion, justifiably — the pro-gun world pushed back when folks on the left almost immediately turned the Sandy Hook tragedy into a platform for gun control advocacy.
At best, bad politicking. At worst, bad human-ing.
Yesterday, death once again reared its ugly head on the gun world’s doorstep. Prominent media personality and blogger, Bob Owens, took his own life. I didn’t know Mr. Owens personally, but many of my friends did. I only knew him as the owner, editor, and primary contributor of BearingArms.com, a very popular (albeit occasionally provocative) pro-gun website. It hadn’t been on my daily reading list of late; but BearingArms.com was gospel to many, the posts were often cited by other outlets and respected names in the gun world, and Mr. Owens was apparently working on a new book. I can’t even begin to imagine how powerful those demons must have been to supplant all that apparent success. I wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on my worst enemies, much less their families and loved ones.
It’s hardly been 24 hours since this tragedy struck, and already, the internet is buzzing with pontification about the moral and religious implications of “self murder.”
Is suicide wrong? Selfish? Sinful? Condemnable? Maybe. Maybe not. All worthwhile questions. But when political vultures sought to fatten up their causes by feeding on the luke-warm flesh of murdered kindergartners, the Second Amendment community called them out for pouncing way too soon. I didn’t know him any better than I knew the Sandy Hook victims, but I hope Mr. Owens’ family will be afforded the same courtesy. Let’s at least get him in the ground before we turn his death into a political or religious debate, let alone cast him off to Purgatory.
Be gentle, friends. Consider the cost of those Facebook likes and teeming comment tallies. It’s not always about you.
Hi, it’s Mopes…just checking in and catching up on my reading (after providing “live” entertainment for you, the nurses and doctors in the hospital, and surviving the Memorial Day weekend storm that left 188,000 of us without power for days).
I try not to comment too much since certain people tend to think I’m biased at bit. Well…I AM! Stay on the mend and stop moving so quickly. Yeah…right!! Love, the original “Robotic Surgery Queen!” ?
MoMo!!!!!!! Hey there! So nice to see you here on the blog. ? Yes you are biased, but you’re also the greatest mom in the world (I might be a little biased too). And you make a mean pasta salad. ????
Thank you. I didn’t know Bob very well (we met once, at a previous NRAAM), but like you, I have a lot of friends who did know him well. But I have let one friend go who felt it was more important to be clever on Facebook and point out a political disagreement than to let the man rest in peace. I’ve seen some very mean-spirited and unnecessary commentary on this topic, and I don’t need people like that in my life.
Exactly!
When wise words are in short supply, you can find them at Front Sight Press.