Now evaluating if I want guns any more....please read
- Thread starter Eric F
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I agree that the best decision right now is to hide your guns from yourself for the time being, until the dust settles from whatever situation you have right now.
My opinion of the details you have given so far - If a good friend of mine accidentally shot me with no real damage, I wouldn't cut that friend out of my life. Since you seem to be pointing that it was a true accident (by saying that you don't think charges should be filed) I think you may just need some time to get everything straight.
Now if a "friend" willingly shot me, I would oust them from my circle - and definitely KEEP my guns, because it would just re-enforce the fact that you never know when you need one.
My opinion of the details you have given so far - If a good friend of mine accidentally shot me with no real damage, I wouldn't cut that friend out of my life. Since you seem to be pointing that it was a true accident (by saying that you don't think charges should be filed) I think you may just need some time to get everything straight.
Now if a "friend" willingly shot me, I would oust them from my circle - and definitely KEEP my guns, because it would just re-enforce the fact that you never know when you need one.
The-Reaver
Member
Though its never happened to me,
Guns is what I know. Its really the only hobby I have. Has been for many many years.
I don't think I could just drop it and pick up a new hobby. I would drive myself crazy.
Guns is what I know. Its really the only hobby I have. Has been for many many years.
I don't think I could just drop it and pick up a new hobby. I would drive myself crazy.
Sorry you were hurt Eric. That's terrible. The circumstances sound pretty lousy too which makes it all the worse.
To answer your question, No I don't think I would sell my guns. However, I'm pretty sure I'd consider it right after such an awful incident like yours also. That is probably a really normal and common reaction to going though something like that.
Do what feels right for you. We all have the right not to own guns too.
Heal quickly.
To answer your question, No I don't think I would sell my guns. However, I'm pretty sure I'd consider it right after such an awful incident like yours also. That is probably a really normal and common reaction to going though something like that.
Do what feels right for you. We all have the right not to own guns too.
Heal quickly.
Carl N. Brown
Member
I have had a couple of close car wrecks and my brother died when his motorcycle met a car that was in the wrong lane. I still own and drive a truck and ride ATVs when I can.
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Eric,
You are experiencing A sort of PTSD reaction
Time will sort it out along with the help of family and friends. Might even consider some professional help
Goodb luck
You are experiencing A sort of PTSD reaction
Time will sort it out along with the help of family and friends. Might even consider some professional help
Goodb luck
N003k
Member
To be horribly cliche . . . I think you just need to give yourself a bit of a break, and then get back on the horse again. I can only imagine that it is indeed a stressful place to be, and I can definitely understand the feeling, but I get the feeling that if you choose to sell all your guns, once you move past this, I get a distinct feeling you'll find you regret it, a LOT.
Caddisflied
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Accidents happen in any sport, even though we do everything we can to prevent them.
If you need to sell firearms for financial reasons, I can understand that.
But I don't think it's a good idea to sell them as a 'knee jerk' reaction to an unfortunate incident.
You can't change the past, but you can learn from it, and move on.
I'd probably take the good advice mentioned by some other shooters here and put the firearms away for awhile.
Maybe in a few months it will be easier to put things in perspective.
Shooting can be a very safe sport.
If you need to sell firearms for financial reasons, I can understand that.
But I don't think it's a good idea to sell them as a 'knee jerk' reaction to an unfortunate incident.
You can't change the past, but you can learn from it, and move on.
I'd probably take the good advice mentioned by some other shooters here and put the firearms away for awhile.
Maybe in a few months it will be easier to put things in perspective.
Shooting can be a very safe sport.
Apple a Day
Member
Eric,
I'm terribly sorry to hear about your misfortune. Hang in there. I'm sure you've been supercharged with emotions but, please, don't make any quick decisions about anything. Take your time and feel free to consult.
Best wishes for a speedy (and complete) recovery. That includes the relationship with your former bud.
Regards,
Apple
I'm terribly sorry to hear about your misfortune. Hang in there. I'm sure you've been supercharged with emotions but, please, don't make any quick decisions about anything. Take your time and feel free to consult.
Best wishes for a speedy (and complete) recovery. That includes the relationship with your former bud.
Regards,
Apple
Like others say, this is very soon after the incident to make any kind of decision that can't be reversed. You don't want to do anything that cannot be reversed, such as disposing of firearms.
I agree that you can lock them away for now and deal with the more important stuff such as bills and legal matters.
If you want to chat just drop me a PM and I'll call you. I don't think it will hurt your case to speak to someone across the pond...
I agree that you can lock them away for now and deal with the more important stuff such as bills and legal matters.
If you want to chat just drop me a PM and I'll call you. I don't think it will hurt your case to speak to someone across the pond...
Sav .250
Member
This reads more like a personal problem than anything else. Guilt maybe?
Either way, Only you can resolve this one.
Either way, Only you can resolve this one.
Anyone who is involved in a screw up (whether they perceive themselves to be the cause or the "victim" of it) is likely to replay and question and analyse the circumstances and variables of that incident in agonising detail.
The gun is one of the variables in this matter that affects Eric personally. And whilst he has the sole responsibility of deciding how to proceed from here, there is benefit from having the influence of cool-headed objective input.
Baba Louie
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WOW. 
Glad you're alive and well enough to post Eric. I can't begin to imagine all of the action going thru your mind due to whatever happened and will happen in the near (and far) future in this regard. Hopefully time will heal most all of your wounds, physical and mental (not to mention spiritual).
Sell off whatcha gotta to pay the bills... sure. Makes good sense, especially if those things can be easily replaced down the road should mindset change back.
Get better quick man. You survived some kind of serious "Holy Crap I never thought that'd happen to me" event. Could be and probably is a life changer to no small degree. Proceed with caution and optimism. Take it one day at a time my friend.
(Whaddya got to sell? j/k... trying to get a smile on your face)
Glad you're alive and well enough to post Eric. I can't begin to imagine all of the action going thru your mind due to whatever happened and will happen in the near (and far) future in this regard. Hopefully time will heal most all of your wounds, physical and mental (not to mention spiritual).
Sell off whatcha gotta to pay the bills... sure. Makes good sense, especially if those things can be easily replaced down the road should mindset change back.
Get better quick man. You survived some kind of serious "Holy Crap I never thought that'd happen to me" event. Could be and probably is a life changer to no small degree. Proceed with caution and optimism. Take it one day at a time my friend.
(Whaddya got to sell?
j/k... trying to get a smile on your face)
Hate to hear it. I know we are all glad your wound was not more serious. Be sure to count your blessings here as well as the negative side which is obviously hard to deal with. No one is dead, you did not do it, and in time maybe you can even regain the relationship with your friend.
Like all traumatic events, step back and let things alone for a bit until your head clears and you can think more logically. Putting the guns away for awhile and letting time pass is a good idea.
AC
Like all traumatic events, step back and let things alone for a bit until your head clears and you can think more logically. Putting the guns away for awhile and letting time pass is a good idea.
AC
Radagast
Member
Eric:
Last year I fell off a roof, shattering my spine, bone fragments through my spinal cord, pelvis crushed & powdered against my spine, tendons cut in my hand, fractured sternum and a 10 day wait for surgery with a 20% chance of failure, which would have been a death sentence even if I woke up, as I would not live as a paraplegic.
Six weeks later I was back on a roof.
17 years ago I was in a major car crash, fell 30 feet onto rocks and crushed a vertebrae.
Two days later I drove again.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that you can let a traumatic or painful incident rule you, or you can decide not to be mentally affected by it.
Obviously you will have to deal with the physical effects, just as I am. I wear a back brace to get around and I'll never compete at the national or international level again in IPSC. But I am not dead, I'm still able to work, drive, climb on a roof and shoot.
At this point you are mentally shook up and in physical pain, along with suffering the effects of drugs. All will be effecting your outlook on life in a negative fashion. I've never met a person who has had a close friendship end who was happy afterwards. I've never met anyone in major pain who was happy. And I've never met anyone on drugs who was mentally 100% with it - after I stopped taking pain killers my sense of humour returned. Anyone facing losing their job tends to be distressed or depressed.
At the moment you have all of the above destabilising your life.
For the time being I would put the guns away anyway. Get well, get through the legal issues, sort out your employment and get any related bills paid off. Review your friendship at a time where you can look at it objectively. Maybe it is time to call it quits or maybe you will be able to give it a second chance.
When you have your life centered again, then review your gun ownership. It may be that you will decide to take a new road in life where they will just be a responsibility you no longer want. Or you may be just as happy to continue as you were.
Regardless, I wish you good luck in the future. I hope you heal quickly and that everything else sorts out to your satisfaction.
Last year I fell off a roof, shattering my spine, bone fragments through my spinal cord, pelvis crushed & powdered against my spine, tendons cut in my hand, fractured sternum and a 10 day wait for surgery with a 20% chance of failure, which would have been a death sentence even if I woke up, as I would not live as a paraplegic.
Six weeks later I was back on a roof.
17 years ago I was in a major car crash, fell 30 feet onto rocks and crushed a vertebrae.
Two days later I drove again.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that you can let a traumatic or painful incident rule you, or you can decide not to be mentally affected by it.
Obviously you will have to deal with the physical effects, just as I am. I wear a back brace to get around and I'll never compete at the national or international level again in IPSC. But I am not dead, I'm still able to work, drive, climb on a roof and shoot.
At this point you are mentally shook up and in physical pain, along with suffering the effects of drugs. All will be effecting your outlook on life in a negative fashion. I've never met a person who has had a close friendship end who was happy afterwards. I've never met anyone in major pain who was happy. And I've never met anyone on drugs who was mentally 100% with it - after I stopped taking pain killers my sense of humour returned. Anyone facing losing their job tends to be distressed or depressed.
At the moment you have all of the above destabilising your life.
For the time being I would put the guns away anyway. Get well, get through the legal issues, sort out your employment and get any related bills paid off. Review your friendship at a time where you can look at it objectively. Maybe it is time to call it quits or maybe you will be able to give it a second chance.
When you have your life centered again, then review your gun ownership. It may be that you will decide to take a new road in life where they will just be a responsibility you no longer want. Or you may be just as happy to continue as you were.
Regardless, I wish you good luck in the future. I hope you heal quickly and that everything else sorts out to your satisfaction.
I can understand your point of view....I don't know how long ago this all happened but I would say give it some time. You may go back to enjoy the hobby again...if it was ever a hobby to you.
I would say if you saw guns as a tool, went hunting once a year then sat the rifle down I would say you could just walk away, and if some time in the future you wanted to come back you could.
If on the other hand you where like me and had a collection of 40+ guns, most classic and historical arms then it is a different question. For that I would say lock them away, cover the safe with a blanket set some fake trees in front and just see how you feel in time.
Sorry for your loss.
I would say if you saw guns as a tool, went hunting once a year then sat the rifle down I would say you could just walk away, and if some time in the future you wanted to come back you could.
If on the other hand you where like me and had a collection of 40+ guns, most classic and historical arms then it is a different question. For that I would say lock them away, cover the safe with a blanket set some fake trees in front and just see how you feel in time.
Sorry for your loss.
horsemen61
Member
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keep
I would keep my guns
I am sorry about what happened to you
I would keep my guns
I am sorry about what happened to you
ATBackPackin
Member
Eric, I am sorry to hear about your situation, but I am glad to hear that you are on the road to recovery. My thoughts go out to you and yours.
Unfortunately I cannot tell you to keep nor sell your guns. That is a decision only you can make. What I will say is why is it important to make that decision right now? There is a reason why we should not make important decisions while in an emotional state and that reason is that we usually live to regret it. I will also say that when the time is right you will know what to do.
Would I? Most likely not.
As well I hope that you and your dear friend eventually patch things up. Dear friends are hard to come by in this world. I wish your family and you the best of luck and if you have trouble getting beyond this, professional help is nothing to be ashamed about.
Shawn
Unfortunately I cannot tell you to keep nor sell your guns. That is a decision only you can make. What I will say is why is it important to make that decision right now? There is a reason why we should not make important decisions while in an emotional state and that reason is that we usually live to regret it. I will also say that when the time is right you will know what to do.
Would I? Most likely not.
As well I hope that you and your dear friend eventually patch things up. Dear friends are hard to come by in this world. I wish your family and you the best of luck and if you have trouble getting beyond this, professional help is nothing to be ashamed about.
Shawn
Sorry for your trouble, but this too shall pass. Let your firearms sit for a while, then get back to what you enjoy.
You mentioned that you have "lost" a "very dear friend" as the result of an firearms accident...and that you hope for an outcome that involves no criminal record (for your friend).
To me that is telling.
Good friends are hard to come by. Don't throw him/her away. Both of you are in an emotionally charged state. The two of you need to talk it out...soon. You can yell and vent; your friend can apologize...then the two of you find out what your friendship is made of...rather than erecting a wall of silence that lasts for decades.
You can choose to either lose your friend and your hobby, or keep both. Your friend owes you life-long drinks at the bar and someday it will all make for a good war story.
Stuff happens. You are alive. Move on. Heal up quick.
You mentioned that you have "lost" a "very dear friend" as the result of an firearms accident...and that you hope for an outcome that involves no criminal record (for your friend).
To me that is telling.
Good friends are hard to come by. Don't throw him/her away. Both of you are in an emotionally charged state. The two of you need to talk it out...soon. You can yell and vent; your friend can apologize...then the two of you find out what your friendship is made of...rather than erecting a wall of silence that lasts for decades.
You can choose to either lose your friend and your hobby, or keep both. Your friend owes you life-long drinks at the bar and someday it will all make for a good war story.
Stuff happens. You are alive. Move on. Heal up quick.
Eric,
Your concern is completely understandable. You've had a traumatic life-threatening experience, but the advice to never make a decision while you're upset applies very well here. While you're still traumatized you should be patient and wait to make any decision.
Once a little time has passed and you have time to let things settle down, you can make a decision that will affect you for months and years to come.
There are several states that remand any shooting to the Grand Jury for consideration. The fact that someone is charged doesn't automatically that the Grand Jury will find cause to recommend prosecution.
Once you put this behind you it will be easier to make a decision that you can live with. Plenty of time for that.
Your concern is completely understandable. You've had a traumatic life-threatening experience, but the advice to never make a decision while you're upset applies very well here. While you're still traumatized you should be patient and wait to make any decision.
Once a little time has passed and you have time to let things settle down, you can make a decision that will affect you for months and years to come.
There are several states that remand any shooting to the Grand Jury for consideration. The fact that someone is charged doesn't automatically that the Grand Jury will find cause to recommend prosecution.
Once you put this behind you it will be easier to make a decision that you can live with. Plenty of time for that.
longdayjake
Member
I don't have any advice on whether you should keep your guns. I will say though that if you want to keep your friend from going to jail or getting a criminal record, you can always talk to the prosecutor. Let him know that you don't want any charges filed and that you want him to drop the case. If he argues with you about it just let him know that you will be testifying for the defense. Just make it clear to him that you will feel even more hurt and victimized if he prosecutes your friend. If he still refuses to do what you ask, then tell him you will go public with how badly he is treating the "victim" of the crime he is trying to prosecute.
CONNEX 3300
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Good advice. I will wait to hear your full story after the legal matters are settled before I make any suggestions other than to just put away the guns and forget about them for awhile. Anybody (some more than others) can have their decisions influenced by emotions. If you have just had a terrifying experience, or something saddening, it is best to wait awhile to make any decisions. I'm not really much of an emotional guy but I still hold off on decisions if something upsetting has happened.
Good luck. I hope this reminds all of us on here to be extra careful...
Recognizing the hazard of commenting without full knowledge of the facts, my comment is this: I have never been shot, but in hunting situations I have had guns pointed at me through the carelessness of others. My response has been to distance myself from those persons, not from the guns.
Best wishes for your full recovery and that you come to the best decision for your personal situation.
Best wishes for your full recovery and that you come to the best decision for your personal situation.
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