Coming to Terms is a deeply personal and thought-provoking memoir by David Frankel, a survivor of the 1993 mass shooting at 101 California Street in San Francisco. Frankel was in the building as several of his colleagues were killed nearby—a traumatic experience that shaped the course of his life. Initially turning to gun control advocacy in search of meaning and healing, he later began to question whether that path truly addressed the deeper issues of vulnerability, resilience, and personal safety. Co-authored with constitutional law attorney C.D. “Chuck” Michel, Coming to Terms traces Frankel’s transformation as he wrestles with loss, fear, and the evolving meaning of self-defense. The book offers rare insight into one survivor’s hard-won understanding of empowerment and personal responsibility. This is not just a story of trauma and recovery—it’s an invitation to rethink what it truly means to protect ourselves and those we love.
