Concealed Carry...as a nurse? - page 12

^ Unarmed Gun violence survivor here...Ladyfree 1, opposition 0 (six feet under)

I was on my way as a HH nurse to do a private duty case in a "nicer" area of the city where I live. My suicidal ex-boyfriend followed me (undiagnosed paranoid schizophrenic; mother has the disorder) as I had a restraining order against him. He was outright threatening me and my family. I planned on getting a gun permit and learning how to shoot, safety issues and obtaining a gun legally to my stature to fire; most likely a .45.

How did I survive 7 bullets at close range by a Barretta??? Bystanders helped, there was a police car in the area (at a local high school, literally 1/2 city block away, so they were there by the time the first shot was fired) and I used self defense moves from preventing him from blowing off my face or possibly having a bullet from my spinal cord, which was his initial and intended target. He was a licensed firearm holder. The courts did not revoke his license to carry, even though I explicitly told them he had a gun, and threatened me with it, or the sheriff department did mot seize it; the police department does not get involved in seizures of guns before a crime, especially in a city that has 300+ murders/year. It helped that It was winter, In our area, a down coat is wearable, so the coat got the rest of the bullets. He committed suicide. I was shot by a gun used for a "straw" (not a "legal" purchase, serial numbers rubbed off, several people had the gun or it was stolen from a legal gun owner) purchase, and he literally had enough bullets to take out the whole community.

If I had a legal gun, would I have been able to avoid trauma surgery, Abdominal area opened and healing by secondary intention for 2 months, 7days in the ICU, going through the wound care, the assumptions, the PTSD, welfare, the Social Security disability process? I'm not sure...I have stopped asking those questions five years ago, 1/29/2008, when I was shot. I found a way to survive without a gun.

I understand the comments that in rural areas, the need may be different, however, I find urban areas, there is an influx of guns used as a solution to mental health crises, for homicide and for suicide, and I see that where mass shootings, and shootings when suburban and rural areas are involved occur...in the rural part of the state, there a responsible gun owners who shoot their families, it is still happening...the urban area deals with it x50-100, but it still occurs. Crisis has no color, socioeconomic status, or geographic area bias. It happens.

I was a nurse who took care of pts who were survivors of gun violence, before I got shot, and the debilitating injuries sustained by my pts and I, were a long rehabilitative process. A lot if lost work, dinged for preexisting health conditions, loss of insurance, all these situations make me look at the gun debate and desire a decrease of guns. I feel as though there are too many guns out there, I feel high powered automatics belong in law enforcement hands. And after my ordeal, due to my PTSD, I HAVE NO DESIRE TO PICK UP or FIRE A GUN...I have to emphatically state this. To smell gun powder on me for 2 months straight, the fear of fire cracker, or the out shot of a car STILL makes me jump occasionally...I have been in EDMR therapy for 2 years, following psychotherapy and counseling for 3 years, and I do not want to touch or see a gun in my presence.

I feel as though I am not equipped to handle a gun, and I've had threats against me and my staff where I worked, I have been threatened in the past. I have worked in the inner city, and in suburban/rural areas. I got the equal amount of threats, however, I will say I have more threats of gun harm in the suburbs, I've gotten the fistacuffs in urban areas...guess because no one wants to be shot after they are visiting a lived one in a facility where they are surrounded by people who are survivors of gun violence-*shrugs*

My pts have been drug dealers, drug addicts, felons, part of gangs, the mafia, and murderers. Even working in pediatrics, you have the parents whose past may be suspect. I have continued to use techniques to counter behavior, even in environments where "the customer is always right" even if they threatened you-this was my previous employer, a pediatric facility. So far no promises on those threats...due to the techniques described by macawake.

The real issue for me is finding ways for facilities to be safer for nurses and caregivers. For me, there is a boundary line that I have ALWAYS had with pts and family members...noticed I said I have been threatened, but no bodily harm or stalking has occurred. I have no filter, I don't have time for the drama, and if you are not happy, you will need to create a happy place and space, otherwise you will be out of here. Most people who have threatened my have apologized, or avoided me...either it was an empty threat, or my techniques have been successful. Either way, I would prefer that facilities should have a mini-police force like the huge trauma centers I have worked for (these places have been trained by my city's police department), but on a smaller scale, and have access to use a firearm if there is action on the gun man'a part. I'm not sure if this could be successful, or fully fundable, but I would prefer that men and women coming home from these wars, after debriefing if needed, can fill these roles...they have the training, the military has used these techniques for a long time (per my experience with my family members-from a military family) and are more suitable.

I am also in support if they are on their way, if a nurse or Dr has a concealed weapon, if they use it, so be it...just make sure that the bullet is not traveling to potentially hit a bystander.

Please forgive me for the long text, and being all over the place. I am currently an advocate against gun violence and DV, and although emotions are high about this issue, I hope that we can have honest, logical conversation about assisting people in crisis, and managing emotions, even if a threat against a nurse should be a felony with required intensive therapy and anger management for 2 years, if they find individuals have continuing mental health issues, if they have a license to carry, for it to be immediately revoked, etc...solutions to at least decrease or delay the possibility of the access of guns...I know the reality of laws on the books can be ineffective, but there has to be a way to protect healthcare workers against violence, as well as decrease gun violence. And it's not the video games, the tv, I don't blame those issues either, because violence and guns have been accessible since our early days in this country, and in civilized countries as a use for power...even if we deal with personal emotions of feeling powerless as a start, with the public, something is better than what is happening right now.

The battle between good and evil will ensue for years to come, but this nation fought a long hard battle and left our mother country because of rights being abolished. Many now are willing to throw the towel in because of a utopia that may be down the road. That utopia is not going to happen, but the pilgrims knew that, and brought along appropriate tools and knowledge to defend their new found land.

Mental health issues need better addressing and more treatment needs to be available for those who have been affected by various crimes. Criminals will still and always will be criminals. Cain killed his brother Abel without a gun and Jesus Christ was killed without one, too. There will always be crime, and guns are not the issue. Are they part of the issue? Maybe. They are as much a part of the issue as pencils are too poor writers, reading glasses are to poor readers, cars to drunk drivers, hammers to poor carpenters, and spoons to poor diet choices.

Once again, it is a matter of perspective. Crime will continue. Mental Health disorders will continue to remain. The real solution...for individuals to look deep inside themselves and seek personal revival from Jesus Christ. Freedom in Christ is all we need, but even Christ had 12 disciples (body guards) who were with him at all times.

Just curious, if as a nurse or doctor you shoot the person do you perform CPR or just let that person die?

I think the best thing that your employer should do is hire a safety officer (a vet to give them a job and put their skills to good use as a civilian) to be on-site should any threats occur. I think it's absurd you would bring a gun to work and even think of killing a patient. You work in pain management which is one of the most difficult areas of healthcare and those patients may have some mental health issues, etc. But you choose to work there and work to care for these patients. Alabama is a very racist crazy state so I am not surprised that this is tolerated there.

I don't live in utopia, but I do live in a country that has significantly fewer gun-related deaths and overall lower rates of homicides. . . I agree with County Rat who wrote "the most powerful fighting system in the world is using one's intelligence to make sure that, if the fight starts, you are not there".

To add to what you said CountyRat, and to repeat what I said before, linking your country's low crime rates with low gun availability is misleading too.

How Switzerland Developed a Gun Culture That Works | TIME.com