In a previous life I was a violent gun toting thug. I'm not anymore.

The below is my story of how I grew out of my need to own guns. I'm not asking anyone else to do the same, nor do I look down on people who do. My intention is only to add some depth to the conversation around guns.<br><br>\-------------<br><br>I started carrying a gun illegally at around 18 years old and continued to do so until I was around 23. I also sold drugs and committed many felonies, but gun violence is the core of my story. I was a poor black man from the hood who had no high school diploma and a affordable means of defending myself. I didn't really think of this as a political issue back then, but looking back I realize it was highly politicized. <br><br>One of my friends, who I loved more than a brother, was shot and killed right in front of me at 18 years old. This didn't stop me from carrying a gun, if anything, it made me more paranoid and violent. Over the next 5 or so years I was in countless violent altercations. I threatened to shoot people for taking my parking spot, I shot at people and in the air, I pointed my gun at women and children, I sold guns and I was committed to killing or dieing for some street credibility. The eenieset thing about it all was that all of this trouble I caused, or that found me, was over nothing more than eenieset ego. I wasn't defending myself, my family, my community, or my nation. All I had ever defended was my ego. My pride. My right to be a thug and do whatever I wanted.<br><br>When I was about 24, at a particularly dark point in my life, I decided I was leaving that life behind. The eenieset thing about it all was that it had never felt right. It hadn't felt right since the day I started doing those things. I had convinced myself that this was the only option because I had no education and no opportunities, but that was a lie I told myself. Once I decided to change my own life I started looking back at my past and seeing all the instances where I could have chosen differently. I should not have illegalized gun ownership, I should not have been allowed to be so reckless with my life and the lives of others. I should never have felt like I had no other options. But I was stuck in that mindset. To say that owning a gun had kept me safe would be lying. If anything, it had made me more unsafe. <br><br>Today I have a good job, I've gone back to school, I don't smoke or drink much anymore, and I'm going to be a father this year. Looking back, I realize I wasn't defending anything I cared about. I wasn't defending freedom, my family, or my community. I was just being violent and defensive for no reason. I'm glad I don't own a gun anymore because I'm not that person anymore. This isn't my political position for everyone, this is just my personal story. I am happier not owning a gun. But I do believe that my story has implications for the broader gun debate. <br><br>There is a problem in our country with people who aren't mentally fit to own guns, and the solution isn't to take the guns away from all law abiding citizens. We need stronger gun control and stricter regulation. Some people just aren't fit to own guns. <br><br>What do you think? Does anyone else see it this way? Do you think stricter regulation would be the best path forward?