Off the Sidelines: on Gun Control

Owns guns, which she keeps unloaded under the bed

I said, "Yes."

"Where do you keep them?" he asked.

Without pausing to think why he was asking the question or whether I should answer it, I said, "Under the bed."

Huge mistake. Our exchange about guns became his whole story. It made the front page of Newsday, and that lead to headlines across the state. I was so frustrated with myself for not answering more thoughtfully--and for answering at all. The topic was irrelevant to our interview. Besides, what was I thinking, telling the world, without any context, that I kept guns under my bed? One had been a raffle prize, the other a gift. Both were still locked up in their original cases. Neither Jonathan nor I had ever loaded either.