Comments on: Why I Don’t Carry or Handle Firearms Anymore

By: Robin Edgar

Robin Edgar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:38:10 +0000

“did I tell you I was a practicing drunk at the time?”

It could have been worse Patrick. . .

You could have been an accomplished drunk, or even a virtuoso drunk!

By: Patrick Murfin

Patrick Murfin — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:08:07 +0000

I’ve been a “peacenik” most of my life, although as a Westerner I grew up around guns and don’t have the semi-official UU allergy to them. I only carried a fire arm as a weapon very briefly back in my days as an IWW organizer when I was involved in a Downstate Illinois strike where pot shots had been taken at union members homes. Everyone in the whole region was pretty much armed to the teeth. I got a cheap Brazilian .38 revolver and carried it in a clip holster on my belt underneath a jacket—even though the temperatures soared to nearly 100 degrees down there. I even kept it for a while when I got back to Chicago. More than once I found myself wandering the streets after closing time—did I tell you I was a practicing drunk at the time?—waving the gun around. A couple of times I fired in the air just to feel what it felt like. Not good. I knew it. Before leaving Chicago for a planned hitch-hiking trip to the west coast, I gave the pistol to a fellow worker. I’ve not carried or fired one since, although a family heirloom flintlock Pennsylvania long rifle does hang in my living room.

I never had a warrior’s post-traumatic flash backs. But I do recognize a sudden primal adrenaline surge of rage/fear that can be triggered by odd encounters with real people or even by something I see on TV or even read. It doesn’t last long, but for some moments I could/would kill without compunction. Luckily, except as an understandable reaction to a street assault, I have never acted on that flash. (No, even then I didn’t kill probably only because I didn’t have a weapon.) My family recognizes the symptoms, although I don’t believe they know what it is. Referring to may usual slow-as-molasses physical pace, my youngest daughter will sometime catch me suddenly “moving like you butt’s on fire” when I react to some visceral outrage on the TV news. I pretend not to know what she is talking about . I hope she never learns.

By: Robin Edgar

Robin Edgar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:20:55 +0000

Thanks for sharing this David. I am “digesting” it. I may have something more to say later but just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you posting this.

Best Regards,

Robin Edgar

By: Cindy

Cindy — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:59:15 +0000

Thank you for sharing this David. Your honesty and ability to be, not only present with yourself from moment to moment, but to make that experience palpable for others is a true gift for which I am grateful.

By: while I’m on a web retreat « Pax Pac

while I’m on a web retreat « Pax Pac — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:07:45 +0000

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