My husband, Roland, lived with chronic pain and depression for the last 10 to 15 years of his life. When he bought a gun for target practice (“Don’t you want me to get out and have some fun?”), I was worried. When he repeatedly said that he wanted to kill himself, I was especially concerned, knowing that there was a gun in the house.
There was no such thing as a red flag law back then, and I felt that I had no recourse. In my state, there is STILL no red flag law, and I feel for others who may be faced with similar issues.
I was at work when I got the call to come home. He had used his gun to follow through with his plan and left me and two teenage sons to deal with this tragedy. Every day I wonder about the legacy they are left with and how it is affecting them. I know some of the struggle they experience but will never know it all.