Last week the founder of the ‘Pink Pistols’ Douglas Krick committed suicide following a long-term battle with depression.
Yesterday, Doug’s mother made a public Facebook post announcing the loss (transcribed below):
DEPRESSION SUCKS!!!!!!!!
This is the hardest post I have ever had to or hope to make. Our dearly loved son, Doug, took his own life last week. Depression killed him. Depression sucks!
Doug turned 48 last month. He was our oldest. He wanted what everyone wants: a good job, a loving partner, good friends. He had all of those things at one time or another even for several years at a time but never seemed to be able to hold onto them. He didn’t always see the world in the way most of us do so he had a hard time relating. He also had a very different sense of humor. But Doug was also the kindest, sweetest, and most gentle person I have ever known. He would do anything for anyone at anytime. We knew of his struggles and told him how proud we were of him. He overcame alcoholism, lost about 100 lbs a few years ago, and he always had a job of some kind. Did I tell you what a kind gentle soul he was?
But for Doug, life often seemed to be an uphill battle. I think he simply got tired of that uphill climb and was tired of being tired. I believe that Doug always knew we loved him deeply but in the end he simply wasn’t able to reach out to us as he had in the past. We comfort ourselves in the knowledge that mom and dad will now take care of him and they are all in the arms of Jesus. Whatever Heaven looks like, we rest in the ease that Doug is there and no longer struggles or hurts.
We will keep you posted of the time and place of the funeral services.
Did I mention that Depression SUCKS!!!!!
On behalf of the Second Amendment community and the LGBT community, I want to extend love and support to his surviving loved ones and eternal gratitude for his effort in bridging traditional divides, defending the Second Amendment, and standing up for equality of opportunity for all Americans.
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Piper Smith is the founder & executive director of Armed Equality.
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