I have no idea how this guy got into his predicament, but I can say from experience that it is possible to work hard, sacrifice like crazy, do everything right and still lose everything. What happens in the emptiness after that is an ultimate test of your fiber. This guy failed. He may think that he was just too danged old and tired to start over again. And he might be right. It doesn't make what he did right, but I can't help but feel for him a bit.
If he could pull a trigger and kill someone, he could bag groceries. My experience has been that these crazies have more pride than work ethic.
He could have sold the gun and made a payment.
Paraphrasing Jefferson, Government is not about reason. It is about force.
Updated: Government is a gun.