Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Worked a 13 hour day in a hot ass factory , tryin like hell to make a ship commit on Tuesday on the one of very few machines that intimidate me.
That’s another story , but I hate this SOB.
Well I’m outside hotel room drinking a PBR and smokin a Lucky and this dude rolls up on me on a 10 speed.
Brief conversation , can tell this guy needs some mental health help. Probly benefit greatly from it and society would be better for it.
I offered him a beer.
Went and got one and of course strapped on my piece.
Never know.
This dude lives in a tent with a blind buddy in a tree line between my hotel and interstate 70.
He just got back from Makin the rounds at local restaraunts gathering food they were fixin to throw out.
Dude was cool enough.
Never let him get out of my line of sight , but turned out cool.

Seems we need to focus more on mental health issues as a society.
There are millions of people like this dude.
Lots much much worse.
In a lot of cases. We have access to social media activity or arrest records that should be obvious , these people need checked out.
Treated as applicable.

Something to think about.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Yes, mental health issues are the elephants in the room. Everyone is yelling "get rid of guns" but no-one is looking at the mental health state of the persons' pulling the trigger! For instance, the killer in Uvalde, TX
was a screaming example! It doesn't take a genius or PhD to see there was one sick dude! Just Sayin...RJS

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Exactly what I sayin.
Un imaginable challenge but we Americans have come back on top of a lot of stuff when Ute the number ONE piriority.

Gotta say. I have an AR style rifle. Set up for distance work.
I’ve been extensively trained , am proficient and am a responsible , stable citizen.

Also gotta say, does everyone have the okey dokey to own such a weapon ??
Im torn on this . But obviously those with proper training , skill set to be effective , and the degree of responsibility to own such a weapon should be allowed to own one and to carry the burden of that responsibility.

Spray and pray is for thugs and armatures.
Precision and knowing the gravity of your actions ..:

Slimshady Loc: Central Pennsylvania

I agree with you on that score Ben. Make it mandatory to be trained on how to use that weapon. Mental health seems to be an issue that no one wants to address. There are many,as you said,who need some help and either can’t or won’t get it

Passingbye Loc: Reidsville NC

My brother and I were waiting one early morning for Walmart to.open, we were going to purchase oil, filter, anti freeze oil change back in March, there was a young lady freezing standing by the doors to open, she came to our truck bumming $20, her breast were engorged with milk..I asked where's your baby? In our tent with her husband. My brother saw her track marks, I'm not giving you money for drug's! I had a bag McMuffin and gave her one, told her to wait, I bought her a gallon of milk, box Honey nut Cheerios and disposable bowls and utensils. These were 18 year olds with no future unless they get cleaned up and work their way out. The reason they're homeless, they've stole from every family members who tried to help her for the sake of the baby. It's a lost generation and that's sad.

Dakoda Loc: Cle Elum, WA

Drugs and mental health issues seem to go hand in hand. We’re going to have to deal with these social issues or see more deadly incidents.