Mr. Doughnut
Member
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2011
- Messages
- 38
I'm looking for some thoughts and opinions on a weighty topic...
Background:
A troubled man deliberately kills himself with his Colt 1911. Some years later, the deceased's father gives the gun to a nephew, who is a younger cousin of the suicide victim. The uncle (again, he's the father of the suicide victim) expresses a desire to his nephew that the gun stay in the family. But the deceased's mother wants the gun "gone," and the deceased's sister wants the gun destroyed.
The younger cousin who now has the 1911 wants to keep the gun, and is thinking of having it refinished (the pistol still has organic residue on it from the suicide). Further, the cousin who received the 1911 wants to shoot it as a tribute to his late older cousin, with whom he shared many good times and has many great memories. Plus, the younger cousin wants (someday) to start enjoying the suicide gun with his own son.
Two questions:
1. Whose wishes should be honored, the uncle's or the deceased's sister's?
2. If the gun stays, should future shooting activities involving the suicide gun within the (extended) family be kept secret from the sister to avoid re-traumatizing her?
Another point: If individuals are at a greater risk to commit suicide if a family member has already done so -- at least 2.5x greater, according to one study published in 2010 -- does anyone see an added danger of keeping this particular gun around?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.
Mr. Doughnut
Background:
A troubled man deliberately kills himself with his Colt 1911. Some years later, the deceased's father gives the gun to a nephew, who is a younger cousin of the suicide victim. The uncle (again, he's the father of the suicide victim) expresses a desire to his nephew that the gun stay in the family. But the deceased's mother wants the gun "gone," and the deceased's sister wants the gun destroyed.
The younger cousin who now has the 1911 wants to keep the gun, and is thinking of having it refinished (the pistol still has organic residue on it from the suicide). Further, the cousin who received the 1911 wants to shoot it as a tribute to his late older cousin, with whom he shared many good times and has many great memories. Plus, the younger cousin wants (someday) to start enjoying the suicide gun with his own son.
Two questions:
1. Whose wishes should be honored, the uncle's or the deceased's sister's?
2. If the gun stays, should future shooting activities involving the suicide gun within the (extended) family be kept secret from the sister to avoid re-traumatizing her?
Another point: If individuals are at a greater risk to commit suicide if a family member has already done so -- at least 2.5x greater, according to one study published in 2010 -- does anyone see an added danger of keeping this particular gun around?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.
Mr. Doughnut