The NRA is the problem not guns or gun ownership

[Wait Wut]

4. Dear justiceischeap...

I agree with you on every point, but...that's not the point.

I'm humbled by your story and personal struggle with depression, your courage and your sense of personal responsibility. After the first paragraph, I had tears in my eyes.

This is our real battle. I've known so many people that suffer from depression and other forms of mental illness. Most never bothered to get help. A few are gone forever. Only one used a gun, but that isn't the point. It isn't 'how' it was done, it was the futility and loss of hope. And, there is my ex-bf, an incredibly bright, beautiful and normally gentle soul that was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early 30s. A diagnosis that only happened because he was arrested for assault. He didn't think he needed help before that. After 10 years of self medication, he overdosed a year ago July 1st, less than a year after his diagnosis. I'm still struggling with my own guilt. I stopped trying to keep in touch with him 3 months before he died. I just couldn't convince him to get help. To clean up. To get the fuck away from 'those' people. I gave up on him. I will live with that forever. I don't want anyone else to live with that. I want everyone that thinks a friend or relative needs help to never stop fighting. The love never dies, it just becomes more painful.

It breaks my heart that there is still this stigma attached to mental illness. That politicians think that cutting programs, insurance companies cutting benefits, that ignoring it will just make it go away. How many people still think that people who suffer from depression should just 'cheer up'? You are an inspiration to us all, as is your family. It took courage for them to confront you about your gun ownership. It took a strong person to know they were right.

Thank you so much for sharing your story.

And, yes...the NRA is a big part of the problem along with politicians and individuals that believe their rights are more important that the safety and peace of mind of the general population. I'm a gun owner, strictly for home protection (there's a story...it isn't important here). I am 100% behind stricter gun regulations, education, and punishment. The 2nd Amendment was written for a different era. It was well intentioned, but falls far short in this century. I believe that if most of the founding fathers were alive today that they'd beat the NRA over the head with the Constitution and ask them wtf are they thinking?