This nation's gun violence dilemma hit a little too close to home to me today.
There was a shooting in my office building today. A murder-suicide. Husband shot his wife, then himself.
I did not see it, but I did hear it.
I was sitting in my office when I heard it. Pop-pop-pop-pop, coupled with some muffled yelling. Even though I don't own any guns and I don't go shooting guns, I knew it had to be a gun. Instinctively, I went to my office door, closed it, locked it, and then went under my desk and hid. I waited for about five minutes, not hearing anything more. When I heard some of my office staff outside my door saying that they had called 911, I figured it was safe enough to come out of my office. We then all went into one of the front offices and waited for the police to arrive.
I'm still trying to digest it all, not having excessively panicked when it actually was happening.
However, just a few thoughts in light of the recent ongoing conversation about gun violence.
This would not have happened without the presence of a gun. Not like it did, at least. Not in such a spectacular, horrific fashion, out in the public, in the workplace like that.
The shooter was a well-respected member of the community, upper middle class. He did not strike me as an individual who would obtain a gun illegally. Yet clearly there was something that drove him to do what he did, and that he had a gun so easily and readily available to do it.
The most notable thing for me was when I was hiding out in my office, not yet knowing the exact facts of the situation, whether the shooter was alive, or dead, or where he could be, or what exactly had happened.
Sitting under the desk like that, I was not thinking, "I wish I had a gun." I was only thinking that I wanted to stay right there, under the desk, until I knew it was safe to come out. That was it. That was all that was on my mind.
It was just a weird, weird day. Like I say, I'm still trying to process it all.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I too, would not want to have a gun or have to shot someone. I would have hide or run too...but it really makes me mad that we now have to put up with shit like this because of chickens in the Senate and the House. I'm even madder at Harry Reid for not changing the filibuster rules.
Hugs
I'm glad you're safe. I'll be thinking about you, everyone in your office, and her poor family.
Glad you're okay, though
as you and would never think of having a gun, either. These things are happening so often these days, so sad.
You and your coworkers may want to inquire as to the possibility of your employer sponsoring some group (and/or individual) therapy, as you are all victims of gun violence, too. 
