It was about 1980, so I was over 21 years old. I was working in a plant in East Chicago and I had a revolver that I wanted to sell to a co-worker. We met in the parking lot and the guy examined it and decided he wanted to buy it. While making the transaction, an anonymous classmate of mine who also worked there saw us. He was anonymous because I never knew who it was.
A few days later in Chapel during the announcements, I was told to report to Bro. John Olsen. I had no idea why. I went to see John Olsen, who proceeded to grill me about whether I owned a gun. I said, sure, I had several that a married student kept for me. He told me that I had been seen at work with a hand gun. I told him the story. I don't recall after these 44 years what became of the conversation. I know it didn't change anything. I wasn't suspended or booted out of school or anything of that sort. But the incident never sat well with me. He treated me like I was making pipe bombs and selling them to terrorists.
I was a southern kid who had been raised around firearms and I probably knew more about them that John Olsen. I didn't do anything wrong or illegal. I had not handled a firearm in an unsafe manner. I felt it was an intrusion into my private life. I felt that some student had unduly reported me. It was around this time that somehow I knew my days in that culture were numbered and that's how it turned out to be.
I hadn't thought about the incident in years until today.
A few days later in Chapel during the announcements, I was told to report to Bro. John Olsen. I had no idea why. I went to see John Olsen, who proceeded to grill me about whether I owned a gun. I said, sure, I had several that a married student kept for me. He told me that I had been seen at work with a hand gun. I told him the story. I don't recall after these 44 years what became of the conversation. I know it didn't change anything. I wasn't suspended or booted out of school or anything of that sort. But the incident never sat well with me. He treated me like I was making pipe bombs and selling them to terrorists.
I was a southern kid who had been raised around firearms and I probably knew more about them that John Olsen. I didn't do anything wrong or illegal. I had not handled a firearm in an unsafe manner. I felt it was an intrusion into my private life. I felt that some student had unduly reported me. It was around this time that somehow I knew my days in that culture were numbered and that's how it turned out to be.
I hadn't thought about the incident in years until today.
