Don't Give Someone a Gun Who is Suicidal

[BluegrazzGuy]

Don't try this at home. A man in Louisville pleaded guilty to reckless homicide because he gave a gun to his suicidal wife.
During a drunken argument with James Simpson on Sept. 10, 2007, Katherine Mae Simpson put a loaded gun to her head and pulled the trigger. While her death was ruled a suicide, James Simpson — who called 911 and reported the shooting — was indicted on a charge of murder, with prosecutors saying he was responsible for the death because his wife had been drinking and was angry and suicidal. Today, Simpson accepted a plea deal calling for him to spend five years in prison for the reckless homicide and additional year and four months on separate charges of wanton endangerment and carrying a concealed deadly weapon. Those charges stemmed from James Simpson shooting a gun in the direction of his wife’s family after an argument with Katherine Simpson’s brother at her funeral.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090513/NEWS01/90513017/Man+who+gave+suicidal+wife+a+gun+pleads+guilty

[kenhwind]

Massad Ayoob published an article about using reloads, or why they should only be used for practice.
These fellow had developed a light load for a .357 magnum revolver so his wife could shoot it. well apparantly she decide to shoot herself. He tried to get the gun and stop her, but failed. Because there wasn't powder residue, or the amount from a .357 magnum he was charged with murder.
The prosecutor felt that his story didn't hold up "It couldn't have happened that way"
I'll look for the American Handgunner issue and post a link to the article.

[Aguila Blanca]

I don't think he should have been charged with anything. Having been married to a woman whose mother was a truly nasty drunk, I am firmly of the opinion that some people should be allowed to commit suicide when they choose to. I'm not alone in that view, either. My ex-wife (a different ex-wife) used to know a psychologist (now deceased) who routinely told suicidal patients to make a choice. He told them if they wanted to commit suicide, he'd buy them the gun. If they acted shocked and declined the offer (which they always did), then he'd tell them to quit play-acting and get with the program.

[Chilo45]

I don't think he should have been charged with anything.
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You must have missed this from the same article:

Today, Simpson accepted a plea deal calling for him to spend five years in prison for the reckless homicide and additional year and four months on separate charges of wanton endangerment and carrying a concealed deadly weapon. Those charges stemmed from James Simpson shooting a gun in the direction of his wife’s family after an argument with Katherine Simpson’s brother at her funeral.

1) Carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
2) Wanton endangerment for firing a gun in the direction of his in-laws.

Now on the charge of reckless homicide, he deserves to be incarcerated for being stupid enough to tell the police that he gave her the gun to kill herself - that she didn't just off herself without his knowledge. Stupid is as stupid does.