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s-cubed

(1,385 posts)
46. Depression runs in my family. As a middle schooler, my son had an episode.
Sat Jan 19, 2013, 02:00 PM
Jan 2013

As this was before Prozac, he was treated by a therapist for four years. While at camp, under supervision, he did target practice (rifles). His instructor said he was quite good, and could be a real competitor. My husband and I discussed it, and decided against letting him pursue this hobby. We did not stop him shooing at camp, even though we understood there was a degree of risk. We felt the positive feedback from the instructor and other boys outweighed the risks. It's a tough call to make, but in the situation described, I'd refuse to allow a gun in the house. But i think the author and husband need some help getting through this.
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BTY, he's grown, married, with 2 beautiful little girls and he still plays violent video games.

As long as the weapon is kept securely locked up, it wouldn't be a problem slackmaster Jan 2013 #1
I agree Travis_0004 Jan 2013 #2
Are you kidding me? easttexaslefty Jan 2013 #96
He's a kid who has shown Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #3
I certainly agree that there are potential pitfalls, however... slackmaster Jan 2013 #4
You need to stop talking easttexaslefty Jan 2013 #97
You have no idea what I know and what I don't know slackmaster Jan 2013 #103
Its pretty damn obvious you DON'T easttexaslefty Jan 2013 #109
honoring a request to be civil is not hard, and makes this board work better for everyone. Voice for Peace Jan 2013 #112
I'm betting your kid is no psycho killer. backscatter712 Jan 2013 #16
Yeah. You could do all that. tblue Jan 2013 #27
Yes, that would be preferable. n/t backscatter712 Jan 2013 #29
Thank you. Denninmi Jan 2013 #6
Adam's mom thought it would be good for her son as well elfin Jan 2013 #10
I don't think you can extrapolate from one situation to another. Denninmi Jan 2013 #32
Oh come on, people. easttexaslefty Jan 2013 #98
Nope - I disagree. GoneOffShore Jan 2013 #7
How will he figgure out how to get into the safe? Travis_0004 Jan 2013 #11
Breaking into a safe or a locked box just takes the application of time & effort. baldguy Jan 2013 #22
Tons of "how to" material available on the net Kelvin Mace Jan 2013 #63
If you read the article you'll see that the father has already said: GoneOffShore Jan 2013 #75
Kids are smart. Damned smart. tblue Jan 2013 #30
Get two safes: one for the gun, another for the ammunition. Keep them in widely-separated places... JHB Jan 2013 #15
Get one for the dad too. tblue Jan 2013 #31
absolutely. barbtries Jan 2013 #95
The gun was ostensibly for self protection Fumesucker Jan 2013 #113
There are more details about his condition at the link. This boy is also extremely bright pnwmom Jan 2013 #23
It's also possible, perhaps likely, that the boy has no inclination to violence slackmaster Jan 2013 #25
That's my concern about how this story's framed. backscatter712 Jan 2013 #39
Did you read about him trying to jump out of the car? Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #44
He's an impulsive, hyperactive kid who's been bullied and has tried to jump from a moving car. pnwmom Jan 2013 #54
But he shouldn't be demonized either. backscatter712 Jan 2013 #57
Who's demonizing him? pnwmom Jan 2013 #87
Of course it doesn't. easttexaslefty Jan 2013 #99
Did you have access to guns when you had ADHD, which involves pnwmom Jan 2013 #53
In any house with kids, a gun stored insecurely is too dangerous Yo_Mama Jan 2013 #59
Are you saying people that have... Matt_R Jan 2013 #88
No, I am saying that unsecured guns in households with kids Yo_Mama Jan 2013 #101
Depends on how you define "kid." Pete Cortez Jan 2013 #106
But they can pose a danger to themselves Kelvin Mace Jan 2013 #62
"Securely locked up, it wouldn't be a problem".... No Vested Interest Jan 2013 #68
Gotta wonder if Nancy Lanza... 99Forever Jan 2013 #93
I suspect that Nancy Lanza didn't do a very good job of securing her firearms slackmaster Jan 2013 #104
Please feel free to ask her about it. 99Forever Jan 2013 #107
Buy a gun safe. Use it. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #5
This boy might be bright enough to defeat the lock pnwmom Jan 2013 #55
Basically, you're saying that obtaining a gun is dead wrong. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #58
For a parent of the boy described in the OP, part of being responsible pnwmom Jan 2013 #64
I guess so. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #72
I have a relative, too, who has made me think about this situation. pnwmom Jan 2013 #86
LOL Zoeisright Jan 2013 #79
LOL! Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #80
Oh yes they can. N\t easttexaslefty Jan 2013 #100
Oh, yeah? n/t Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #102
Yeah. easttexaslefty Jan 2013 #110
That is why you get a safe, not a lock box. ManiacJoe Jan 2013 #66
Tell him to take up Tennis instead rightsideout Jan 2013 #8
There are a bunch of things kept in a HappyMe Jan 2013 #9
I take psych meds. Satisfied. Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #38
For one thing, the boy's parents HappyMe Jan 2013 #42
It isn't easy to diagnose some conditions. Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #48
The article sounded a bit flimsy HappyMe Jan 2013 #50
This is a man who has odd priorities. rug Jan 2013 #12
Agree completely! n/t etherealtruth Jan 2013 #14
I totally agree laundry_queen Jan 2013 #17
That is a sensible, compassionate, insightful reply. Fire Walk With Me Jan 2013 #18
The child is obviously a threat to society and must be regulated by the state. Fire Walk With Me Jan 2013 #13
Lunatics are only a problem under CERTAIN phases of the moon, know your almanac! HereSince1628 Jan 2013 #28
It is time to stare those who grab power through fear-mongering directly in the eye Fire Walk With Me Jan 2013 #40
I am not saying that. Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #51
This anectdote is of no general interest if it isn't generalizing something HereSince1628 Jan 2013 #56
How so? nt Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #70
F.A.I.L., patently so. HereSince1628 Jan 2013 #73
I asked you a specific question. Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #74
You're pulling my leg all the way to my shoulder, right? Look at the title of the article HereSince1628 Jan 2013 #76
Read the article and Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #84
This is how society moves toward consensus that is stigmatizing HereSince1628 Jan 2013 #85
I did not post Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #91
No one EVER thinks what they are doing adds to the problem HereSince1628 Jan 2013 #92
Of course, a perfect solution to the problem of the mentally ill. Denninmi Jan 2013 #34
+10000 diphthong Jan 2013 #36
When a women in my family say "No guns in my house!" there will be no guns in the house. hunter Jan 2013 #19
I hope the couples worked that one out before they were married slackmaster Jan 2013 #20
If your husband insists on bringing a gun into your home, avebury Jan 2013 #21
Does he NEED it or does he merely WANT it? Generic Brad Jan 2013 #24
I agree. Lars39 Jan 2013 #37
Keep it locked unless it is under your direct control. geckosfeet Jan 2013 #26
Set fire to his house. It's the only way to be sure. randome Jan 2013 #33
The guy couldn't even hide a gun permit application Lars39 Jan 2013 #35
Why should he hide the permit from his wife? ManiacJoe Jan 2013 #65
More pertinent question: why did he *not discuss* wanting to buy a gun with his wife? Lars39 Jan 2013 #69
I think the mom who wrote the article said it best when she said... DogPawsBiscuitsNGrav Jan 2013 #41
That reads like fiction to me, and for the kid's sake I hope it is petronius Jan 2013 #43
The last thing they need in the house is a gun. We had a friend keep our hunting guns when our appleannie1 Jan 2013 #45
Depression runs in my family. As a middle schooler, my son had an episode. s-cubed Jan 2013 #46
this isn't about guns Enrique Jan 2013 #47
People assume a much stronger correlation between mental illness and gun violence than justified. Bonn1997 Jan 2013 #49
people have to assume because there is no reasearch allowed farminator3000 Jan 2013 #82
That's bad policy but you still have to assume the null hypothesis in the absence of research Bonn1997 Jan 2013 #83
there's some good stuff here farminator3000 Jan 2013 #89
When it comes to mass shooters SUICIDAL DEPRESSION IS A CORRELATION. KittyWampus Jan 2013 #111
Safe with a biometric lock JohnnyBoots Jan 2013 #52
that would be even better with this farminator3000 Jan 2013 #71
I am not a gun owner or lover but...... peace13 Jan 2013 #60
You expressed my point of view LeftInTX Jan 2013 #115
Has your son been violent or aggressive? Remind him of Adam Lanza's mother and what southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #61
she should keep arguing politely- she'll win eventually.unless they really are in danger,but i doubt farminator3000 Jan 2013 #67
Update your will. Zoeisright Jan 2013 #77
The wife doesn't want it in the house. That's enough. gulliver Jan 2013 #78
Making a decision about bringing a gun into the Smilo Jan 2013 #81
My advice: Report the father to a mental health professional dickthegrouch Jan 2013 #90
Glad you don't believe it. Pete Cortez Jan 2013 #108
It's the idiot father who's going to destroy that family dickthegrouch Jan 2013 #116
i like her response. barbtries Jan 2013 #94
Before we even get to the issue of firearms... Pete Cortez Jan 2013 #105
Check the 'Medications' the child is taking... TheBlackAdder Jan 2013 #114
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