Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for my absence in recent months. Life has been hectic, and I'm happy to say it's been due in some part to my pending return to the military this coming October, specifically to the Navy Reserves. I've decided I should go back in to finish my "sentence," and God willing, someday receive a pension. As I see it, might as well make use of time already served instead of receiving nothing for my previous 11 years of active duty.

Okay ... now to the "serious question" part of this topic. A few weeks ago I received the tragic news that a long-time friend and Army vet took his own life with a firearm. Without getting too specific, there was a combination of alcohol and prescription medication involved which, I believe, clouded his judgement. The loss has been devastating not only to me, but obviously his family as well.

As an avid gun enthusiast, he had about a dozen or more pistols. His wife and daughter have lined up buyers for all of them -- except the one he used that fateful night. After the police investigation came to the conclusion it was indeed a suicide, the gun was returned to the family. His daughter approached me because of my friendship with him and because I am also a gun enthusiast to ask my thoughts regarding the gun used. Specifically, should she sell it?

This got me thinking. Knowing it was used to take his life, my first thought was it should be destroyed. There's something inherently creepy or cursed or something about the thought of owning a gun used in a suicide, and it seemed like something I would want disclosed before I bought it, and would probably keep me from buying.

I spent a week or so thinking about the question and tried to remove my emotions from the scenario and think practically. In burying her father, the expenses have been high and will continue to mount without that income. She could use the money, and the weapon in question has some serious value. So then I was thinking, ok sell it, but don't tell the buyer or potential buyer as this would likely stop the deal (unless they intended to resell it anyway). I just don't know. Some people might not give it a second thought or even care about the gun's history. I'm inclined to tell her to stay quiet about the "why" and get it sold. She had asked if I wanted to buy it and there's no way I could ever own that gun. Maybe I'm just being superstitious?

So, my questions to everyone are, "Would you destroy the gun or sell it? If you sold it, would you disclose why it is being sold? As a buyer, would you want to know the history or even care?"

Thanks in advance for the replies. And for my buddy, a heart-felt "HOOAH." You'll be missed, brother.

V/r,
Nate

First off, allow me to offer my condolences on the loss of your dear friend. Such a loss is always tragic.

On to the question.

The history of the gun would not deter me from purchasing the gun. Personally, I'm not too keen on the idea of destroying guns, anyway.

My dad carried, for years, the gun with which my great-grandmother killed herself. He eventually sold it. If he hadn't sold it, I'd probably be carrying it today.

If keeping it is out of the question, (and I fully understand why it would be!) I say sell it. Whether or not to disclose the reason is up to the seller. If she doesn't feel right about not disclosing, then disclose. If it seems to have a negative impact on saleability, then lower the price. Somebody will buy it.

While I can understand your apprehension, it seems like the needs of the family currently should outweigh those feelings.

I would sell it, and if the question comes up, just tell the buyer the truth: That is belonged to your friend, who has recently passed away, and it is being sold to help the family with funeral expenses.

That aside, I'm very sorry for your loss and for the family. Suicides are especially hard circumstances for the victim's friends/family to cope with. I hope that you all take care of one another during this difficult time.

-Alex

Agreed - sell, but no need for the buyer to know the history of the weapon. How many surplus military weapons do people buy that may have been used in heinous battlefield atrocities? No need for us to know.

My condolences for the loss of your friend. I know how much that can hurt.

As background, my wife's father shot himself with his Army-issued Colt revolver; couldn't take the thought of daily dialysis. My wife's brother now has the gun. He treasures it.

I don't think the buyer cares, and shouldn't. Alex says it best:
"I would sell it, and if the question comes up, just tell the buyer the truth: That is belonged to your friend, who has recently passed away, and it is being sold to help the family with funeral expenses."

I'm sorry for your friend, his family, and you.

HOOAH.... May our brother rest in peace. Sadly he has taken the life he was once willing to give for his country's freedom. My prayers are with you brother and with his family and soul. No greater man shall pass through the gates of heaven than a man willing to sacrifice everything so others may be free.


As far as the gun goes.... Like its already been said, it's just a tool. Let it's function now help pay the bills.

My condolences.

Agreed with the other posters. Sell the weapon, but not the history.

Good advice, all.

My condolences.

I am one not to care of a guns history, I'd say sell it. I actually have a bayonett from a japanese rifle (that I'd like to buy from her if she'll sell it) that my grandmother gave to me. I'm sure it's been used to kill many a man but yet I keep it.

The is nothing to fear of such an item as to fear it gives it strength. Some may even like to buy it because it was used in a suicide!

Family needs the money. As has been said several times, many ifd not most wouldn't be detered by the history. Disclosure may well reduce what the gun would bring, which is a good argument against disclosure. That said, whether to disclose is a matter of conscience. Easier if it is sold to a stranger.

I still have the Ruger Super Blackhawk my father-in-law used to take his life.

I used to shoot it a lot. He really enjoyed shooting that gun and he was really good with it. I have a lot of memories of good times in the yard, out in the woods/fields, etc. of him and that big .44.

It has been in storage for over 20 years and my kids are big enough/old enough to enjoy shooting it. I haven't decided if I'll tell them what he used it for last, but I will tell him about all the good times we had shooting it.

I'm not the kind of person who blames an inanimate object for a human's actions. The gun is not evil. The gun only did what he forced it to do in that moment his mind was clouded by something other than the joy he usually had when shooting that gun (or any of his guns).

To everyone who replied, thank you very much for taking the time and for the thoughtful responses and condolences. It's not only appreciated but respected.

Time does heal all wounds. The more time passes since his passing, the more comfortable I've been with telling her to sell it -- which is what I have now done.

My comments to her were to sell it without disclosing the nature of its use. As some of you suggested, it would serve only to muddy the waters and perhaps lower the value of the gun. It should sell quickly, I think.

As a final note in this story, per his wishes my buddy's remains were cremated. He had always told me that he wanted to be cremated because he "was going to live so long that all the graveyards would be full by the time he died." The family is planning a wake for this weekend, now many weeks after his passing to celebrate his life. Family, friends, food, & fellowship. They are also going through the process of trying to have his remains interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

V/r,
Nate

Sell it.

No, as a seller I wouldnt disclose since its not materially relevant.

No, I wouldn't care as a buyer.

Its just an inanimate object. Unless you believe in psychometry it is still a run of the mill handgun.

Those WW2 "bringbacks" were usually taken off corpses and to my knowledge have never exhibited any unusual psychic phenomenon.

Give yourself more time to think it through before it gets sold. It may have meaning down the road. Sure it is an inanimate object, but so is a head stone in the grave yard as are the memorials we see up and down the highway, but they do provide a connection to those that have left.

I truly hope he does get into Arlington. He earned it. He was a casualty of war and should be treated as such. Please inform us of the outcome.

I agree with sell but don't tell advice.

Not to highjack this thread but related. That is guns with a history.

A chiropractor I know in Ohio who is a shooter and gun collector had an older couple as patients some years back that approached him with a problem.
Their son, Jeff, who wasn't living in Ohio at the time, was in need of some cash and they, the parents, were holding a Colt Trooper .357 that belonged to him and he asked them to sell it.
They knew that my friend was a gun enthusiast and asked him what to do.
He wasn't in the market for .357 wheel gun but decided that he could afford to give them a good price for it and then used it for trading stock. (Which is what he did fairly quickly.)
So he said, "OK, Mr. and Mrs. Dahmer, I'll buy Jeffrey's gun from you."
It's been close to two decades and he is still looking for that gun to appear at a gun show. He knows the serial number.

Note: That gun was not used to kill anyone as far as I know.

I lived for 18 years just a few minutes drive from the house where Jeffrey grew up.
No one would buy it. It was destroyed and a new house was built to replace it.
My oldest daughter undoubtedly when to the same middle and high schools he did, but doesn't share his taste in meat dishes.