It finally happened close to home. A cousin of mine married an alcoholic. Nice guy, kinda funny in his way. Would've quit drinking, thought it was great I did, if he ever got that bad, he told me once.

They were married for 15 years, no children, nothing was getting better. Alcoholic didn't work, much, as a parking lot attendant anymore, money evaporated between the window and the drawer. Cousin had a good job.

Helen had a gun she inherited from someone, small simple automatic. She wanted it around for the usual reason, protection. She felt safer with one in the bedroom.

After 15 years she decided to leave the fellow. Nothing was ever changing, it all seemed like one long, long dead end. She told him she was thinking of it if things didn't change.

Her brothers told her to get rid of the gun. And she felt safer with it.

Well, you can see it coming. One morning she was to leave her house, and no one saw her all day. Repeated calls resulted in her brother and one of his kids from a previous marriage going over to the house. No one answered the doors, though a back patio door was open.

They did not enter, instead called the police. A cop came by, knocked, called, and went inside. Found Helen's body in the garage, one bullet to the back of the head.

Now two cops went through the house, calling. Out of the master bedroom came the guy, drunk, claimed he had been home all day, drinking, asleep and didn't know anyone else was there. Heard no unusual noises.

Possible? Sounds so, but in reality not too plausible for reasons the Grand Jury is hearing tomorrow.

I know a gun killed her. Actually, a person with a gun. And the family and I are pretty sure the gun by itself wouldn't have killed her, and that he wouldn't have done it any other way. In other words, had he not had a gun she'd be alive.

Can't prove that, of course, but we'd sure like to have seen her have that chance.

When the FBIs statistics that 25 friends and family members are killed for every bad guy come that close to home, they come alive.

And the BS about burglars being afraid of them is nonsense. NO burglary would EVER take place if burglars were afraid of them. They don't know if there's one in the house or not. They don't deter anything.

But, some people need them. Some egos. Even .050 cal. sniper rifles, which are really for premeditated long-range killing and no good against a burglar.

Arf