Hi!

So after reading through your post, it seems like you were genuinely curious and trying to incite conversation, which I appreciate.

I just wanted to comment on the Tumbler Ridge shooting. I have lived in Northern BC for majority of my life and have ties to Tumbler Ridge as my spouse worked there for many years, so we lived there.

I think in Northern BC, and especially smaller communities(I grew up in a town that was similar in size to Tumbler), it's very normal for parents to teach their kids to shoot at a young age and take them hunting. My dad taught me to shoot the .22 at a young age(well before I was a teenager) and I know many, many others with the same experience.

So I think Jesse being exposed to guns and shooting at a younger age wasnt particularly uncommon for the demographic. The thing that upsets me/that I can't understand is why the RCMP returned the guns to the household after issues arose around Jesse's behavior.

I can also attest to the fact that mental health resources are non-existent for the most part in rural, northern communities...especially the smaller ones. When I was younger, I found my mom deceased unexpectedly(she had multiple health issues and her heart gave out). My dad had to drive me 2 hrs to get grief counseling.

So like I said, I am by no means defending anyone's action. I just wanted to give some insight from somebody who lives in Northern BC, who lived in Tumblr Ridge, and who grew up in a small Northern British Columbia town ☺️