A family member took his own life this weekend.

[AtheistCrusader]

36. I don't understand the 'violence' connotation?

We campaigned hard to pass Physician assisted suicide at all in WA state just a few years ago. But it is tightly constrained in method, and availability. I'm not sure those conditions would have qualified.

Even if it did, there are those who would not willingly choose a needle or a pill to accomplish it. Done properly, a firearm can fully disrupt the central nervous system instantly. Sadly, my first boss, and a good friend, ended up choosing this option. I miss him very much. I do not question his choice though, and I do not view it as 'violence'. It is an option I reserve for myself, if certain predispositions in my family eventually come to haunt me.

(I'd do it outside, if possible though, so a family member doesn't have to discover it or clean it up.)

I tend to think more options is better than fewer, since not everyone will choose the same method, if/when confronted with that choice.

I suppose it is 'violent' in the sense of being swift or sudden, but it seems to me that is a desirable attribute in this case, for those that wish to go out like a light switch rather than taking a medication/O.D. type path. (Psychologically, there is a significant preference delta between males and females on this issue.)

Presuming the person didn't suffer, I would think the loss of a family member would be the lamentable aspect, not dwell on the means, if that is what the individual preferred.