RIP Bob Owens (Photo: Bearing Arms)
The gun community lost a friend, an advocate and all-around good person this week. Bob Owens, the editor of Bearing Arms, apparently committed suicide.
Authorities for the Fuquay-Varina Police Department found Owens around 11 a.m. on Monday near a stop sign outside his subdivision in North Carolina, The Washington Post reports.
A firearm was also found at the scene. Police said that the gunshot wound was “possibly… self-inflicted.”
Before the alleged shooting, Owens wrote a message on Facebook, “In the end, it turns out that I’m not strong. I’m a coward, and a selfish son of a bitch. I’m sorry.”
Owens is survived by his wife, Christine Zamzow Owens, and two daughters ages 9 and 17. In a response to her husband’s Facebook Post, Christine wrote, “You were nothing but a wonderful husband, loving father and giving friend. You always did what you thought was right even though it was not the popular thing to do. You were never a coward, or selfish, just hurting. I love you baby, you were my world.”
Co-editor of Bearing Arms Jenn Jacques posted the following statement on twitter:
I apologize, but this is all I have to say at this time. Please keep his family in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/a2rNJcrCXQ
— Jenn Jacques (@JennJacques) May 9, 2017
Jacques also posted a heart-rending message on Bearing Arms.
“It is with deep regret and profound sorrow that I must share with you the following: Yesterday morning, just before 11 a.m., Bob Owens’ life came to a tragic end,” she wrote.
“We did not make an announcement on Bearing Arms because it was more important to us to give the family a day to grieve than to break the story and get clicks. But so help me God, I’ve sat here trying, and still cannot bring myself to report this particular story,” she continued.
“In the end, all that matters is he that will be sorely missed, and the truth is that we will never know what truly happened,” wrote Jacques.
Owens was a seasoned trainer, a certified instructor and a major voice for the pro-gun cause. He was 46 years old.
The Owens family has set up a GoFundMe page if you wish to offer them financial support. RIP Bob Owens.
What a damned shame. RIP Bob.
He will be missed.
That’s so sad. He was only 46 years old. Yes, at times, a lot of times, life does suck. But please don’t let Suicide be your final answer to the problems in life. R.I.P. Bob Owens.