Last night, I received a text from a former neighbor from the home we left this past December. It was a simple text with "you were right" followed by a photo of the prettiest pink Smith & Wesson model 37 I've ever seen. Granted, I wouldn't have chosen PINK, but the story behind the pistol overshadowed the color.
The story:
My neighbor, a 55 year, old anti-gun, retired school teacher, always gave me grief over my "barbaric obsession with guns". Other than this one issue, she has always been a great friend and neighbor. On more than one occasion, she would turn around and walk away from me, shaking her head, when she saw me carry a gun from my truck into my home. There were also several instances where she was borderline rude when the topics of my gun ownership came up.
Two weeks ago, the neighbor on the other side of her was broken into. Fortunately the home-owner, an active duty Soldier enjoying a long weekend, was home. The three criminals knocked on his door, then went around back for a forced entry. Three crooks walked in.....only two walked out after his 45 welcomed them in a loud and thunderous way. It was declared a justified shooting, and the deceased was found to be a 2-time felon who was armed as well.
My neighbor was pretty distraught over the ordeal. Since her husband still works, she was alone at the time. When she first contacted me about the shooting, I made a comment about how it worked out for the best. Had it been HER house, or a home across the street with teenage children home alone for summer vacation, I told her the outcome would have been completely different..... "disastrous" and "horrific" were the terms I think I used.
Fast forward to last night...... that simple picture texted to me put a smile on my face. I now know she has "seen the light". This morning, I had a text waiting for me asking for local range suggestions and inquiring about the concealed-carry process.
Violent crime will always be around us. Thanks to stories like this, I have faith that legal gun ownership has a fighting chance as well.
