Hi Maven

I guess I wasn't being serious enough.. grrr at me.

I have been in life-threatening situations and have been around guns in a frightening and negative setting and that influences me as well as a simple accident with a gun does.

Would I get a gun for self-protection? I can see situations where it would seem desirable and I was going to say I would, but I don't think I would. I just don't want anything to do with them.

A relative lived in a rural setting and grew up with guns on a farm. He and his boys would hunt in the 'back 40'. One day the older 2 and he went out and hunted some, then came back and dad went to fix lemonade for all, sending one son to lock up the guns. The safety's were on as always before even entering the house. In the rec room where the guns were to be put away was the youngest, sitting in a chair with a footstool, sitting backwards with his head on the footstool and his body on the chair, watching saturday morning cartoons. No one knows how, but the gun discharged. Had he been sitting upright he might have been nicked in the foot, but he was killed instantly by a shot to the head. He was a kid. It was an accident, though the brother was investigated while also grieving. Just pure grief everywhere. No one to be mad at, no one to blame. It was a horrible accident that changed each member of that family forever.

As far as the database goes, it is appalling. I detest any kind of personal information-gathering and there is more than we'd care to know about.

All our medical information is available to some people like insurance companies/underwriters and it's getting more intrusive all the time. The good thing is that the more we DO disclose, the better, because that changes the "norm". For example if 10% of people report depression then that's outside the 'norm'. If 85% of people report depression then it's within the majority or 'norm'. That is probably why we have better psych treatments now, because we have been encouraged to speak up about it to our docs and so not only is the financial incentive there for pharmacetuicals and others but speaking up about it has also quantified it so the insurance companies can't ignore it as easily... though they sure try their best.

If you see a psych and the insurance company is not involved, the information they are required to keep is very minimal. Another reason I like not having my insurance company involved. (However my employer drastically changed insurance effective May 1st so now I will have a $3,000 deductible as this is a catastrophic plan only. And guess what I do for a living? I process health insurance claims for a Third Party Administrator... the irony is nauseating! )

ECHOES