doi:10.7916/75fp-gg77Oral history interview with LaShea Cretain, 2018Cretain, LaSheaoral historiesmixed materialGun control--United StatesViolent crimes--United StatesIntimate partner violenceAttempted murderOpelousas (La.)Cretain, LaSheaOpelousas (La.). Police DepartmentIn this life history interview, LaShea Cretain describes her family; her life trajectory in Opelousas, Louisiana and San Diego, California; and a life-altering incident where an ex-boyfriend shot her five times. She begins by describing life growing up in Opelousas, the structure of her large family, and relationships with family members. Her grandparents were especially active in raising her, and she describes their personalities and challenges in depth. She describes periods spent living with her mother in Detroit, Michigan and with extended family in San Diego, a city where she would ultimately settle. She describes events of her high school years including a period of home schooling due to a heart condition, the birth of her son, relationships, and the birth of her daughter shortly after graduation. She discusses her relationship with an abusive ex, detailing the escalation of his abuse from verbal through stages of physical violence. She describes his unwillingness to leave her alone after she broke up with him. She gives a detailed account of the day that her shot her while she was at her great-aunt's house with her daughter. Cretain describes being in a coma, her medical treatment, recovery, not being offered counseling or therapy, and returning to work at McDonald's after hospitalization. She also analyzes the financial impacts of hospital bills. She also describes the difficulty of getting information about the case from the police in Opelousas. She also discusses gun culture in Opelousas, the Second Amendment, gun control, choosing to move to California, her educational trajectory, and the educations of her children