I’ve mentioned before in this space that I hate it when my blog looks like an obituary page. September 2023 is a case in point.
Last month, we lost Elaine Frank, the retired head of the Injury Prevention unit in Hanover, NH. Elaine was the founder of the New Hampshire Firearms Safety Coalition. In the polarized debate of “gun control,” she was the only person I ever saw bring the two warring sides together in a productive ALLIANCE. NHFSC began with pro-gun, anti-gun, and experts neutral on the issue who worked in suicide prevention and injury prevention. Working with Ralph Demicco, then the owner of the largest gun shop in NH, she created the Gun Shop Suicide Prevention program which educated firearms sellers on how to recognize suicidal ideation in a prospective customer. Their work saved many lives, and has been widely copied throughout the United States – often without attribution, unfortunately. I had known her, and been a proud member of NHFSC, since the ‘90s.
September also saw the passing of Archie Silkworth. A part-time cop and full-time emergency medical service professional, he provided EMS services at my favorite match of all time, the Second Chance Shoot that began in the mid-‘70s and morphed into the Pin Shoot in 2017 (www.pinshoot.com). Heart disease forced him into retirement but he still attended the tournament, and I had a chance to spend time with him at the match and after, last June.
In August, we called in this blog for some help for Abigail Smith, age 15, whose mom and dad have done great work teaching firearms safety in Alaska. Born with a congenital heart defect that 30 years ago would have doomed her in infancy, this tough young daughter of good people made it well into September before accumulated medical issues overcame the doctors’ best efforts. As they mourn Abigail’s passing a few days ago, her parents are still swamped with massive medical bills and my deepest thanks go to those who donated to help out.
Is there a go fund me (or whatever it’s called) account for the Smiths?
There is, and thank you! You can find it here: https://www.backwoodshome.com/blogs/MassadAyoob/help-needed-for-emergency/
Mas,
The original GiveSendGo account, which you linked to above, does not seem to be active anymore. As near as I can tell, it was shut down after Abigail passed on September 19th.
I made two donations to the Smith family, while the account was still active, and said daily prayers for Abigail right up to the end. I was deeply saddened to learn that the medical issues overwhelmed her brave fighting spirit.
Quote of the Day:
2 Timothy 4:7-8 : “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
I am so sad about Abigail… I never met her or her family, only knew of her through your post. I was following and donated, but had been out of pocket for a week. I just saw this update, and I’m not sure why, but it hit really hard. I never had children of my own, it just never worked out for me and my wife. I suppose just the idea of having a beautiful young daughter and then losing her so young…. I cannot wrap my mind around such a tragedy. My wife lost a son from her previous marriage, but he was 33. Losing a young daughter at 13? Just incomprehensible.
I don’t mean to proselytize, but for those who have given their life and soul to Jesus Christ, they know their eternity is secure… I grateful Abigale’s family has that comfort, and I pray the Lord stays very close to them right now. But a special thank you to you, Mas, for not only helping to support them, but for introducing so many of us to such a sweet girl and caring family. Thanks.
Mas,
It seems like the three people the gun community lost and you chose to mention in this column are the kind of people that we will miss the most. Of course, young Abigail Smith is a heartbreaking loss not only due to her age, but to the fact that she had made it so far past predicted life span.
Ms. Frank is the personification of what every gun owner should strive to be. A reasonable voice that recognizes the truth, from both sides of not only the gun issue, but of every issue. We already stress gun safety, when we stress Col. Cooper’s now deeply ingrained 4 Rules of Gun Handling. But that is only part of the work that we do, and making gun ownership a normal thing, and not something that is cause for alarm to those who choose not to own guns themselves.
The problem, as we all know, is that most of the leadership of the anti gun movement are rabid with their hatred of not guns, but in fact gun owners. Nothing we do is likely to ever change their minds. But we can change hearts and minds, like so many people use as an example, by engaging those who are willing to have a discussion on guns, in a reasonable manner. We must also remain reasonable, calm, and able to discuss the topic without anger, but with facts and patience. And also be willing to correct someone without an air of superiority, like so many people tend to do, since that can cost you any chance of gaining an ally, just due to your own arrogance.
The entire year of 2023 has been a tough one for the gun community, when you look at those we have lost so far. I hope that we don’t forget them, nor their families. And don’t let their legacies fade, through neglect.
Thank you for sharing their lives with us.
God bless their souls.
I use various coping mechanisms to philosophically accept death. If you, the reader, find my ideas unhelpful, then simply ignore them.
Death is a stranger to most modern Americans, including me. It happens mostly to old people in hospitals and nursing homes. We don’t often think about death, even though it is universal. All roads lead to the grave.
I like to point out how blessed we are in this country. Consider the life of Cotton Mather 1663–1728, an early American pastor. He was married three times, because he was widowed twice. He had fifteen children. When he died at age 65, only two of his children had survived him.
Johann Sebastian Bach, the famous composer, lived in what we call Germany, from 1685 to 1750. He was married twice and produced 20 children. When he died at age 65, he had outlived half his children.
That’s a very sad news.
Passing away at the end of a long life well lived is sad, but at the age of fifteeen . . .
May Abigail’s memory be a blessing.
The gun community that haunts the training ecosystem are incredibly wonderful people, whether those folks are students, staffers or trainers.
They are a cut above most people in the world, and I consider myself lucky that I am able to call them my tribe.
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