I've been a lurker for awhile, and I know that this post has been brought up 1-2 times in the last 2 years that I've been an RN. So... you grouchy old farts that would rather I'd revive an old post can just stuff a sock in it. I want to gauge opinions based on our CURRENT situation after the shooting yesterday in San Bernadino, CA.
Truth be told, One single caregiver with a concealed carry permit could have shut this couple down before they hit 14 fatalities.
I plan on getting my CC in January, but I know as an RN, should my handgun be discovered, I'll probably lose my license. It will stay in my car when I am at work. If someone wants to carry out mayhem at my workplace, we are ALL sitting ducks. It is not ok or fair. What are your thoughts?
Experiments have been carried out and prove that having a gun in your possession does not mean your safety or the safety of others. It is impossible to act quickly enough to harm or kill the shooter.
That doesn't matter. If I'm armed, I have options I wouldn't otherwise have.
My gun is for self defense FIRST. If I'm able, I might defend you if the opportunity arises.
Following this logic, we shouldn't have any laws because criminals will "do bad things" anyway.
Things aren't made illegal to make problems disappear. Things are illegal so we can punish people.
Absolutely true. So the next question is, does the act of assault or murder already have a punishment associated with it? Of course, the answer is yes... so why are we discussing further laws? We have done what we can do with laws. Now give people the tools with which to defend themselves, if they are of such a mind. I'm not saying arm everyone; just the ones who want to defend themselves. The others can call 911 and pray that a man with a gun arrives before it's too late.
Following this logic, we shouldn't have any laws because criminals will "do bad things" anyway.
Things aren't made illegal to make problems disappear. Things are illegal so we can punish people.
You really didn't read what I wrote, did you. Guns are illegal here in Puerto Rico. They are illegal to such an extent that it is practically impossible for anyone outside of law enforcement to handle one. And yet mysteriously, the criminals still have them. And when mass shooting occur (and they do regularly), the citizens duck for cover, helpless to do anything until the police arrive. Just because our mass shootings don't fit your narrative or hit the cover of the New York Times does not mean they do not exist.
Take a word of advice from someone who is living in your liberal fantasy utopia. We have everything your type constantly pushes for: high gun control, endless government regulation of everything, punitive taxes (11.5% sales tax, 65% state income tax on highest earners) one years' mandated maternity or paternity leave, heck even gender neutral bathrooms. Walmart is suing our government because their shiny new "multinational company" tax means they pay an effective 93.7% corporate income tax. We also have $73 billion in debt spread between 3.6 million people, over twelve years of economic contraction, population loss, and a staggering 39% EMPLOYMENT rate. Plus 4 times the national average of gun violence. Your liberal theories sound so nice on paper, but they never work in the real world. But you're always so sure that they will work this time if you get your guy in the White House.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I am saddened by the amount of nurses who do not see the connection between our gun legislation and our gun violence epidemic. It truly is a public health issue, and nurses are ethically obligated to protect the health of their communities. We didn't solve the tobacco problem by increasing the amount of people who had access to cigarettes. We tightened control over who could buy them, where they were allowed to smoke, and offered education in the risks of smoking. We as nurses should ask for government funded research to find the best evidence as to what exactly causes gun violence and advocate for the health and safety of everyone. Maybe the solution is for better security and if it is, we should hire more people instead of militarizing our health personnel.
Guns are not tobacco. Tobacco is not good for anything. It damaged those who use it and damages the land it's grown on. Tobacco never saves lives. Guns can, and often do save lives. Mine has been saved with a gun on several occasions.
Former cop here. There is no way a single person with a weapon could have countered the shooting in San Bernadino, or even in many of the shooting that have occurred over the last year. Having a gun is the least important part of being a protector. Situational awareness, developed skill, practiced coordination with other protectors, practiced plans and good communications are far more important. Yep, you might have pulled the weapon out and neutralized one of the two shooter, but the other shooter had as good or better a chance at getting you first. And even if you succeeded, how sure are you that you would have not been treated as a threat by the professional responders? We're seeing a move by police to shoot first, which is wrong and illegal but is happening with sickening regularity.
And a nurse on the floor has a lot of distractions from maintaining overall awareness of what's happening in their surroundings. If you're being continually vigilant for threats, how are you doing your job with your patients? And unless you're carrying the weapon on you, you'll have poor odds of getting a gun from your locker.
Armed individuals, when they've been present in recent shootings, really have not contributed anything to limiting deaths, but they are excellent targets and cannon fodder.
If you're feeling unsafe, either management has to step up, or you need to find a safer workplace.
Body armour is great, but they have heads that were likely not covered. A CC with a decent aim could have stopped the massacre.
Head shots require placing the round in an area about 1/3 that of the chest "kill zone". They're hard in a controlled environment like a combat pistol shooting course, and nearly impossible with a handgun in real combat. And the very real risk of bystander death is still an issue. I'm sure you've heard the term "overconfidence kills" in your weapons training. They mean you, not the bad guy.
Guns are not tobacco, that is correct. I think it is important to look at gun violence from a public health perspective and treat it similarly as any other public health issue. Education, support, and legislation. And Andy, despite what I hope is not attitude, I will respond briefly. Recent articles I have read show the numbers of gun violence has increased, at least in 2015. But without federal research, it is difficult to say exactly.
You really didn't read what I wrote, did you. Guns are illegal here in Puerto Rico. They are illegal to such an extent that it is practically impossible for anyone outside of law enforcement to handle one. And yet mysteriously, the criminals still have them. And when mass shooting occur (and they do regularly), the citizens duck for cover, helpless to do anything until the police arrive. Just because our mass shootings don't fit your narrative or hit the cover of the New York Times does not mean they do not exist.
Take a word of advice from someone who is living in your liberal fantasy utopia. We have everything your type constantly pushes for: high gun control, endless government regulation of everything, punitive taxes (11.5% sales tax, 65% state income tax on highest earners) one years' mandated maternity or paternity leave, heck even gender neutral bathrooms. Walmart is suing our government because their shiny new "multinational company" tax means they pay an effective 93.7% corporate income tax. We also have $73 billion in debt spread between 3.6 million people, over twelve years of economic contraction, population loss, and a staggering 39% EMPLOYMENT rate. Plus 4 times the national average of gun violence. Your liberal theories sound so nice on paper, but they never work in the real world. But you're always so sure that they will work this time if you get your guy in the White House.
Gun control = criminals have guns. Period.
And you didn't comprehend what I wrote, did you?
"Things aren't made illegal to make problems disappear". I hate repeating myself, it's tedious! I hate repeating myself, it's tedious!
I want to gauge opinions based on our CURRENT situation after the shooting yesterday in San Bernadino, CA. 
robynmjay
25 Posts
More police, not more people *