I'm bipolar (or possibly PTSD), spent 3 weeks in the psych ward -- can/should I buy a gun?

[Voice for Peace]

47. A bigger concern than a diagnosis like yours

is people who may or may not have such challenges
but who also are abusers of alcohol.

I know many high-powered, competent people who
are maintenance alcoholics. They tend to be people
who seem like great folks under the best conditions,
but are prone to intense angry outbursts with very
little warning or provocation. Like a pressure cooker
exploding.

I'm sure they all have severe mental health issues but
don't have the diagnoses or associated stigma. They
tend to have humongous arrogant egos. They are
the most "successful" (financially, socially, professionally)
people I've known.

These are some of the people who shouldn't have a gun
on hand, ever, but what kind of a test can you give? There isn't
one.

I also think anybody can crack at any time. Especially
those who seem to be the most solid. I've seen the best
people crack up. It's unnaturally difficult for people to fake
so-called normalcy, for a long long time, without cracking.

There have been times in my life I was glad I didn't
have a gun. I don't know if I would ever have shot anyone
for real -- but it sure felt at times like it would have been
easy, in the heat and craziness of the moment. I know
that even the best people can have poor judgement
in the heat of a moment.