I believe that God didn't make any incomplete people.
I believe that all of us have both sides of every attribute/trait inside of us.
Beauty and Ugliness
Avarice and generosity.
Tenderness and the ability to kill.
And all the rest.
I also believe that once we acknowledge/own our many 'possibilites' that we can then choose which to control and which to enhance.
That being said---some of the most dangerous people I know are combat vets.
I think it was the Apache who understood that man could not return from killing man normal---that they needed to be 'debriefed' ---(not an apt word, perhaps---but somehow their soul had to be healed.
I agree with our govt that some of our returning vets are a danger to society. BUT--THEY CREATED THEM! Banning them from gun ownership is a ludicrous/cowardly way of dealing with it.
Earlier today, i posted on the 'Wall' topic. A bit of my personal journey:
"I was there, 68-69. 82nd Abn.
A horrific legacy. I live in sparsley populated area--which is good, as i don't like crowds.
Three of my vn vet friends have shot themselves.
Another--when i finally caught up with him in oregon--answered phone
"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU WANT!!??" over and over and over.
Took me a half hour to convince him of who i was. Learned he was a recovering meth addict---altho our most common drug of choice was alcohol. V.A. has him on about a dozen meds for various issues.
My oldest and best childhood friend (173 combat medic, 12 mo's of lrrp team) helped me for a bit last yr---super equipment operator. But--he left me in a real bind--been diagnosed with ptsd and parnoid schizophenic----havn't seen him since--
Found my former CO's wife---the guy had gone on to finish career in military, then govt job---till some rare form of brain cancer did him in.
Many health issues are showing up in us. And some in our kids. Forty yrs ago, one of my best buds first kid was born w/o an anus. Cost about 80,000$ in various operations. Eventually was traced to agent orange, V.A. eventually paid up, after yrs. Lotta stress in that marriage--it failed.
Can't find most of my friends---used to stay in touch with many, but kinda went on an emotional and alcoholic 'walkabout' for a long time. CO's widow said most are dead anyhow."
I did not include that my buddy's little boy had so many scars that he wouldn't take his shirt off when swimming.
I didn't share that one of my buddys who killed himself killed somebody else first. With one of them thompson single shots. Always wondered what he was thinking, while he reloaded.
I didn't talk about the fact that another who shot himself had tried to get help from V. A.
I didn't tell about another one---a nighthawk gunner, still alive---who put a 20 guage up a sheriff's nostril (as far as it'd fit, anyhow)---he's doing pretty good, but wierd health issues
Or my buddy--this one a marine sniper--who was shot 5 times in one firefight, got a scar right next to his eye from anther one--fortunately--being a jarhead---his skull will evidently deflect a glancing bullet. This guy's been scared to take even one drink since he came back, v.a. furnish's him meds that stop his dreams.
The deal on the 'wall' said about 60% of the dead were 18. Kids. Think about that. Ones that made it were sent back to world---adios.
I never talked much for yrs--still don't. Was relating a little about it a couple yrs ago---my friend said "probably don't mean anything--but thanks for your service" I told him means quite a lot, actually---3rd tims somebodys said it~~in 40 yrs--
And don't nobody here go saying it now~~I volunteered for the draft, vol for V.N--I thought it was the right thing to do--
I despise old, draft dodging cowards who send kids to fight wars we got no business being in. I despise war profiteers, bankers who steal, politicians like hogs in a trough and religous hypocrites of every stripe and persuasion. I might someday have 'going postal' on my bucket list---but kids, women and decent folks would be purty darn safe~~an i pwobry aint got near enuf ammo for all the sumbitchs