In my last post, we talked about some basics of firearm safety but missing from that list is a topic that just never gets talked about enough among gun owners or those wishing to restrict our rights.
Mental health is important on many levels. Not only is it important for your day to day life, for your family, for your friends, but it’s critically important when it comes to owning a firearm. We as a country need to stop stigmatizing mental health and do more to create resources for people in need. Everyone experiences a day where they don’t feel like themselves but one shouldn’t be chastised for seeking help.
That’s where you come in as a responsible gun owner. If you’re having one of those down days, it’s important to reach out for help. Don’t let that one bad day start to snowball into something bigger. Sadly firearms and poor mental health can be a lethal combination. You as a gun owner have to be honest with yourself. If you’re having a down day, is it really the right time to be handling a firearm? NO IT’S NOT, just in case that’s not clear.
Down days happen from time to time but you have an obligation to yourself and to others to do whatever is necessary to keep yourself and others safe when you’re having that down day. Stepping up and admitting you need a shoulder to lean on is incredibly brave and is the hardest step. However, for far too long, states and the federal government have used mental health as a reason to take away someone’s rights. While we can all agree there are certainly some people who should never have access to a firearm, just because you’re having one bad day shouldn’t be enough reason for the government to strip you of your rights.
Red flag laws certainly have a place in the realm of responsible gun ownership, however it should not be used to immediately remove your firearms on a single bad day. Can that bad day spiral? Yes but that’s where you should be more aware of yourself, your mental health, and seek help. What that help looks like depends on you. Could it be just having someone to listen? Maybe going to dinner with a friend just to break your mind out of the doom cycle? Maybe it’s a bad enough day that you need to ask a trusted, legally permitted person to hold your firearms for you while you process your mental health. Whatever it looks like, we need to stop stigmatizing people for having a bad mental health day!
And for the MAGA’s out there that want to call someone a wuss or a crybaby for having a bad day and for them to suck it up… Well… YOU are part of the problem. Yeah you. Your narrow and small minded view is what drives people away from asking for help INCLUDING YOUR FELLOW MAGA’S! Y’all need to do better and stop contributing to the problem. If someone’s cheese has fallen off their cracker, they have no business owning a gun. Why do you fight this so much? How many more mentally disturbed people have to enter our schools and murder our children before you will finally admit there’s a mental health issue and start to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem?
In closing, there’s no shame in ever admitting you’re having a bad day and need a helping hand. But there is shame in letting that bad day spiral into a of tragedy for yourself and others. There are resources available if you need them, please do the responsible thing and utilize those resources if needed.
Until next time, take care of yourself and each other.
Evan
