I just finished reading the Essay article entitled “A Safe Haven?” (Fall 1999, p. 12). I was reminded of similar experiences I had at an AA meeting a few years ago. At my home group we had a member who suffered from grave emotional and mental difficulties, and who didn’t seem to be benefiting much from not drinking. I no longer recall whether he was on or needed to be taking medication for his condition, but I remember his rage and threatening comments.

One evening he made direct threats against a member who had not yet arrived at the meeting, saying the man was the devil and should be killed. When I attempted to diffuse his anger, he threatened me. I immediately left the meeting room and called the police, telling them we were having a “function” at the church to protect the anonymity of the AA meeting, and a man there was threatening our members. When I went back to the meeting, I told the man the police were on their way. He had more to say, but did so as he was leaving the room.

At our next group conscience meeting, we voted to ban the member from our meeting. This was in keeping with our First Tradition, which states: “Our common welfare should come first…” Mindful of Tradition Three, we agreed we were not banning him from AA. He was free to take his “desire to stop drinking” to any of the other AA meetings in the area, or start his own meeting.

The word was passed to him by one of our “bigger” members that if he returned to our group, the police would be called and charges of harassment and intimidation would be filed against him by an individual member, not the AA group. This would keep the AA name out of public controversy and protect everyone’s anonymity at the level of press, radio and TV, in keeping with Tradition 11.

Months later I met the member at a neighboring meeting. He acknowledged me and came over and shook my hand in a friendly manner. I almost didn’t recognize him, given his pleasant demeanor. But I suspect his quieter manner had less to do with his experiences at my home group and more to do with the men at his new group, who let it be known the only call they would make for him if he got out of line at their meeting would be a call to the hospital.