Bob Owens (Source: Twitter)
By Dave Workman
Senior Editor
The firearms community was shocked and saddened May 8 with news of the death of Bob Owens, editor of the popular BearingArms.com blog from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to the Washington Post, Owens’ body was found that morning at about 11 a.m. outside his subdivision in Fuquay-Varina, N.C. near a stop sign. Only moments before, at 10:51 a.m., he had posted an ominous 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.”
Stunned friends and colleagues seem in agreement that if Owens was a coward, there was never any sign of it. His gutsy no-holds-barred writing style was straightforward and opinionated. Owens was not shy about criticizing issues within the firearms community with which he disagreed. He was willing to tackle issues others might shy away from, including a recent controversy erupting from allegations that Springfield Armory had been practicing politics in Illinois at the expense of gun rights.
Owens was eulogized by Katie Pavlich at TownHall.com. She remembered him thusly: “He wasn’t simply a colleague who I spent time with here and there. He was my friend.”
Less than two weeks before his death, Owens had attended the annual National Rifle Association convention in Atlanta. Those who met with him at the event said there was no outward indication that anything was wrong in his life, personally or professionally.
The 46-year-old Owens had a massive following at BearingArms.com, and his readers admired him for taking stands on various issues. He had once been interviewed by the Washington Post, and his column was linked at TownHall.com.
By Tuesday morning, anti-gunners were weighing in on a Facebook page operated by the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence with remarks criticizing Owens for being a Second Amendment defender. Some of the comments might be considered reprehensible.
Owens, a North Carolina native, started writing about firearms and gun rights more than ten years ago. His initial forays were at the Confederate Yankee political blog and he became editor of BearingArms.com four years ago, according to the Washington Post.
Writing Tuesday at BearingArms.com, his colleague Jenn Jacques noted, “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.
“What we do know is that while Bob was a huge part of the 2A world,” Jacques continued, “he was first and foremost a son, brother, husband, father, and friend.
“Many of you have been posting wonderful memories and shared stories you have of Bob,” the message added. “The pictures, tributes, and prayers are all much needed and appreciated. I know his family – particularly his daughter – is taking solace in the knowledge that he meant so much to so many of us.”
Jacques noted that a memorial has been set up on GoFundMe for Bob’s wife and daughters, ages 9 and 17.
