You Just Never Know....

[SharpsDressedMan]

Had an older guy (late 70's) who frequents my favorite coffee shop come up and ask me if I had any .32's for sale. Apparently, he had talked to my brother, and bro thought I might sell one of mine, as the fella was looking for something small, for "just around the house". I told him that I didn't have any for sale, and he might be better served by one of the newer .380's, like the Ruger LCP, which could be carried if desired, and ammo was way cheaper than .32acp. He examined one, which happened to be in the truck of another patron and friend of mine, also at the shop, who offered it up for examination. We sent him down to the local gun counter of a building supply place, and he later called, to get me on line to tell the dealer what it was he wanted (he could not remember "Ruger" and "380" for the five minute ride to the store). I spoke to the dealer, got him a decent deal, then left them to it. Well, not long after, I get another call. Apparently, the dealer refused to sell him the gun. I asked, "What the hell happened?" Old guy says, "Well, I started telling him that I didn't want to end up like my brother, (debilitated) in a nursing home, and I wanted a gun around in case I wanted to "end it". Well, you have to know this guy. Mostly, he is a blustery, drama queen, and spouts off about everything and anything, probably enjoying getting it off his chest, and the attention. You can't blame the dealer. I do not think he would have the guts to blow his head off, as he is a pretty active Catholic, but you never know. I told him, sarcastically, "Well, that was stupid. You could try another gun shop, but leave off the last part." I got the impression he was already regretting even THINKING it, plus the humiliation of the encounter at the gunstore, so probably nothing to worry about. Anyone else dealt with someone flapping their mouth about buying a gun, or using a gun, for suicide?

 

[buck460XVR]

yep...you never know.

I know iffin it were me, I'd be glad the LGS didn't sell him the gun.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

It's a matter of trust. We can blanket NOT sell anyone a gun, ever again, if they utter the words "kill", "suicide", "hate", etc, but 9 out of 10 most people are just mouthing off. There in is the problem. Do we trust, or take rights away? You never know. Did the dealer do right? Of course. Did old fart snap to his senses? Maybe. We'll see. I have always said, if a person is REALLY hot on suicide, no amount of talk is going to dissuade them.

 

[matrem]

I think personal responsibility is key here.
Whether buying or selling.

We need more of that.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Using a gun to commit suicide is done,but then so are many other ways.

I've heard of gun ranges having people rent guns and then blowing their heads off (and the poor range personnel have to find them like that!)

Next time you see him just tell him he can join the Soylent Green society.

That might shock him.

BTW there is no such society but one way to get liberals riled up is to call them Soylent Green Liberals.

Deaf

 

[matrem]

BTW there is no such society but one way to get liberals riled up is to call them Soylent Green Liberals.

Most "Progressives" are self loathing and do a pretty good job of getting "riled" up without any outside help.

 

[gp911]

The nearest gun range to me has had a couple people rent guns then kill themselves with them. I think in one case they brought someone with them and shot them too. If someone is serious they will find a way.

 

[Ian]

(deleted)

 

[marv]

A few years ago a guy bought a shotgun in our local walmart and took it outside around back of the store and killed himself with it.

 

[Bailey Boat]

I once had a "non gun" friend ask to borrow a gun while I knew he was going through a divorce with his wife. I politely declined so he used the old, "car in the garage" ploy. Worked just as well with less mess and my gun wasn't involved.....

 

[MedWheeler]

A friend sold me a Hi-Point C9 last summer. As we had been talking about the idea, another co-worker became aware of the deal and tried to "up-bid" me out of it. The seller, more of a friend to me than to the other guy, stood to his word and sold me the gun, though I did raise the price to almost what the other guy was offering.

After I took possession of the gun, the seller told me the other guy had told him he intended to simply flip the gun to "some punk on the street somewhere." That was a definite turn-off to the seller.

 

[Mike J]

No one had ever told me they intended to shoot themselves but there was a fellow I knew when I was much younger that chose that route. He took himself out at the age of 22. Pitiful really but it wasn't anyones fault but his own.

 

[medalguy]

Firearms are not the only way to end someone's misery. A friend once committed suicide with a ballpoint pen. Took the pen apart, used the metal case and he scratched and cut his wrists until he bled out. As several people said, if someone wants to end it, they will find a way.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Anyone else dealt with someone flapping their mouth about buying a gun, or using a gun, for suicide?

Not personally. A friend of mine in high school's father owned a pawn shop and a guy comes in crying one day.
He keeps saying that he needs a cheap gun. Apparently the friend's dad knew who the guy was and that he was looking for attention.
He grabs a .38 from the case and says, "I'll throw in one bullet, so don't miss."
The guys turns and walks out.

He wouldn't have gone through with the sale. He just knew the guy was in it for the attention.

 

[forindooruseonly]

Sometimes you just don't know what is going through someone's mind. A good friend of mine hit a bad run of luck and lost pretty much everything, but never seemed particularly depressed about starting over from scratch. One day he borrowed a gun and went home and shot himself. He was a regular shooter, no one thought anything of him borrowing a gun, but in hindsight maybe we all should have paid more attention. The guy just hid it very well.

 

[rcmodel]

It's kinda been my experience over the years that those that talk about suicide openly are looking for attention, or help, or intervention. As are those that slash their wrests, or take a bottle of pills.
Right after calling someone and telling them they are doing it.

It's always the ones you never even suspected of thinking of it ends up blowing their brains out.

At any rate, the gun shop did the right thing by refusing the sale.

rc