This is an absolutely horrible tragedy. And to be honest, I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more. You don’t know the stress and heartache that these zoning rules place on homeowners and business folks. I’m not saying that the members are to blame for this man taking the drastic and tragic step of suicide, but often there is a failure to understand what boards and councils actually do to a man’s life. I’m saddened however, that Bo Ward didn’t have more faith and hope that God would see him through whatever crisis or storm. As C.S. Lewis says, pain is God’s megaphone.

From WSMV in Nashville:

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Witnesses said a business owner shot and killed himself during a City Council meeting Thursday night after members voted against his request to rezone his property.

Bo Ward, owner of Bo’s Barber Shop, had told the council — which approved first reading of the zone change last month — that his business would go under if the change was not granted.

Following the vote Thursday night, Ward approached the council and said, ” … Ya’ll have put me under, I’m done.”

Ward then shot himself in the head with a small handgun in front of the council and about 50 people attending the meeting.