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Last month I went to Wal-Mart with a friend. He wore a sidearm on his hip, which has been doing for the past few weeks.
I asked him why and he said someone yelled at him in the Wal-Mart parking lot last time he was there.
I knew he owned guns, but he never carried before.
I asked him why and he said someone yelled at him in the Wal-Mart parking lot last time he was there.
I knew he owned guns, but he never carried before.
He's undergone a rather stark change not just since I knew him in the army, but since I've moved here to Indiana in 2017.
He started listening to Ben Shapiro and Steven Crowder. He freaks out about Captain Marvel and SJWs. He rants about transgenders in the military.
He started listening to Ben Shapiro and Steven Crowder. He freaks out about Captain Marvel and SJWs. He rants about transgenders in the military.
He's started talking about race more, and not in a very progressive way.
He's gone from a guy who thought Trump was an asshole in 2017 to telling me he's going to vote for him next year.
He's a white guy in his late 30s with a history of anger and depression issues.
He's gone from a guy who thought Trump was an asshole in 2017 to telling me he's going to vote for him next year.
He's a white guy in his late 30s with a history of anger and depression issues.
He has an AR-15 and a few handguns.
I connected with him during our deployment bc he wasn't the typical infantry type the same way I wasn't the typical infantry type. We both liked science fiction. We both liked cats. We both liked strategy games. We both hated PT.
I connected with him during our deployment bc he wasn't the typical infantry type the same way I wasn't the typical infantry type. We both liked science fiction. We both liked cats. We both liked strategy games. We both hated PT.
But he's becoming...or has become...radicalized in a way I didn't expect. And in some ways I fear for his well-being and the well-being of his wife and kids.
And there's probably thousands of men like him all over the country. Men not happy with their life.
And there's probably thousands of men like him all over the country. Men not happy with their life.
Men who don't know how to discuss their feelings. Men whose only emotion they feel willing to share is anger.
I'm not sure what can be done about these people. It's frightening to see the change in real time. It's frightening to wonder how deep into the abyss he'll go.
I'm not sure what can be done about these people. It's frightening to see the change in real time. It's frightening to wonder how deep into the abyss he'll go.
If he can change this much in just two years, where is he going to be in 10? Where is this country going to be in 10 years?
And I'm not tweeting this because I think he's going to go out and shoot up a school or store or something.
But if he did, or anybody like him did - anybody with anger and rage and depression, who has access to firearms - I can't say I'd be surprised.
But if he did, or anybody like him did - anybody with anger and rage and depression, who has access to firearms - I can't say I'd be surprised.
And I know in writing this I'm not the most objective person when it comes to guns. Anybody who knows me or has followed me for a while knows - to put it mildly - I'm anti-gun.
But as much as I hate guns, I think the guns themselves are just one component of the overall problem.
But as much as I hate guns, I think the guns themselves are just one component of the overall problem.
It's guns and their easy accessibility and glorification in various media forms (tv, movies, video games, etc) and it's also a heavy dose of white male rage and impotence and a health care system that gives people the care they need only after they've proven they have a problem.
