Magazines, newspapers, and TV news — everyday there is a senseless death from a gun. There are days when lives are saved because a gun is in the house. I have a gun; I don't feel safe without it in my home. But I also lost someone very special to me. My oldest brother, Billy, was accidently shot and killed by his best friend. My brother and his friend had gone to a shooting range with the police chief that day. Then Billy went back to his friend's house so they could clean their guns. Once the guns were "cleaned," my brother went to change a record and said to his friend, "I can draw faster than you." Both drew their guns, and a bullet hit my brother in the heart and killed him instantly. His friend hadn't checked the chamber where a bullet had been left from earlier in the day.
I still remember the morning I heard the news. I was 7-years old, wearing my favorite blue nightgown. My mom called me over and pointed to a picture of Jesus we had on the wall and said, "Billy went to live with Jesus last night". I asked if he would ever come back, and she said no. Our priest arrived and spent the day. It was January 1973.
He was 19-years old with his whole life ahead of him. I heard he was engaged. I remember a woman freaking out and having to be helped out of the viewing room during calling hours. Since then, various other woman have claimed to have been in love with him. He was a great looking guy, and several girls had crushes on him. He was a good guy, and I've only heard good things from others. He would have made a wonderful father. He took care of me from the day I was born.
I often wonder how things would be different if he had lived. I know in my heart things would have been different in a good way. But am I willing to give up my gun in the name of gun control? No, I have a right to feel safe in my home. As long as there are criminals, I want the right to protect myself. Criminals will always get guns — any limitations or delays only affect the law abiding citizens. I don't see a reason for a citizen to have an Uzi or AK-47. Chances are if someone has one of those, they aren't one of the good guys who would follow the law anyway.
Article comments