Clarence Jones

We're afraid to even ask other people about, talk about like money and finances. So talking about guns, that could be really hard in certain households, especially like urban households. So, yeah.

We're afraid to even ask other people about, talk about like money and finances. So talking about guns, that could be really hard in certain households, especially like urban households. So, yeah.

No, I agree. And I agree that we're there with the conversation.

No, I agree. And I agree that we're there with the conversation.

I remember a few weeks ago, my daughter just turned two, you know, but a few weeks ago we were at another couple's house and they were both in the army, you know, and she just mentioned out loud, like the woman who house we went to just mentioned out loud, like, oh, all my husband does on the weekends is go shooting and then come back home, you know?

I remember a few weeks ago, my daughter just turned two, you know, but a few weeks ago we were at another couple's house and they were both in the army, you know, and she just mentioned out loud, like the woman who house we went to just mentioned out loud, like, oh, all my husband does on the weekends is go shooting and then come back home, you know?

And automatically I thought like, oh, I don't, that was a trigger for me, you know? So when we left, I'm talking to my wife, like, I don't know if we can remain friends with them because I don't know if I don't know if I want to have a conversation with them about their gun storage. I don't even know how to have that conversation, you know.

And automatically I thought like, oh, I don't, that was a trigger for me, you know? So when we left, I'm talking to my wife, like, I don't know if we can remain friends with them because I don't know if I don't know if I want to have a conversation with them about their gun storage. I don't even know how to have that conversation, you know.

So I would also like to think I'll hear from you guys about like how how do we even engage in that conversation? No matter what race they are, like how do I engage in that conversation with with someone else about like.

So I would also like to think I'll hear from you guys about like how how do we even engage in that conversation? No matter what race they are, like how do I engage in that conversation with with someone else about like.

That's a great question. I think, you know, I think growing up, I couldn't see past a certain point. Right. Like not not not in a literal sense, but like I couldn't think I was I couldn't think to when I was 21. You know, I was 21 years old. I was 20 years old. I got shot three months before my 21st birthday. You know, so growing up, I knew I knew one day I would get shot.

That's a great question. I think, you know, I think growing up, I couldn't see past a certain point. Right. Like not not not in a literal sense, but like I couldn't think I was I couldn't think to when I was 21. You know, I was 21 years old. I was 20 years old. I got shot three months before my 21st birthday. You know, so growing up, I knew I knew one day I would get shot.

I knew there was a high chance of me getting shot. I remember even after me getting shot, I went to like my old neighborhood one day and there was five of us just hanging out. And the common thing that all of us had with one another was all of us got shot within a one block radius of where we were standing that day. Wow. You know what I mean? I don't know if a lot of people can even say that.

I knew there was a high chance of me getting shot. I remember even after me getting shot, I went to like my old neighborhood one day and there was five of us just hanging out. And the common thing that all of us had with one another was all of us got shot within a one block radius of where we were standing that day. Wow. You know what I mean? I don't know if a lot of people can even say that.

You know what I mean? When people like us get together in my communities, it's primarily because of trauma, right? Somebody dying. And, you know, a lot of times that's because one of our friends is getting murdered, right? Or something else that affects us in some kind of way. So to answer your question, I I can't say no. I can't say yes.

You know what I mean? When people like us get together in my communities, it's primarily because of trauma, right? Somebody dying. And, you know, a lot of times that's because one of our friends is getting murdered, right? Or something else that affects us in some kind of way. So to answer your question, I I can't say no. I can't say yes.

I know at that time, I was starting to want to go to school and get out of the streets and make better on myself. I don't know what that would have what that would have looked like, you know, at that age, probably not. But, you know, who knows when I was 40 or 50, would I have wanted to start doing acts of service and giving back in some sort of way?

I know at that time, I was starting to want to go to school and get out of the streets and make better on myself. I don't know what that would have what that would have looked like, you know, at that age, probably not. But, you know, who knows when I was 40 or 50, would I have wanted to start doing acts of service and giving back in some sort of way?

I would like to hope I can say yes, but I can't even honestly say yes because at that time, it's just self-preservation, right? It's self-preservation by any means, you know, whether that's carrying a gun, whether that's something, whatever it is, I have to get my next meal. That's how I was wired, you know?

I would like to hope I can say yes, but I can't even honestly say yes because at that time, it's just self-preservation, right? It's self-preservation by any means, you know, whether that's carrying a gun, whether that's something, whatever it is, I have to get my next meal. That's how I was wired, you know?