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?
My first thought was of the nasty, disrespectful, light leaning, demanding jerks that I currently encounter during a shift. I wonder if their attitudes would change if they knew that I was carrying at work. Hmm....
My first thought was of the nasty, disrespectful, light leaning, demanding jerks that I currently encounter during a shift. I wonder if their attitudes would change if they knew that I was carrying at work. Hmm....
Like far says above, this statement implies that you would be feared if it were known that you were armed. You seem to like the thought that people would be scared that you would shoot them for giving you attitude. Nice.
I grew up in the midwest. Rifling was taught in 4H. I had access to small airsoft and bb guns as I proved I was adult enough to be responsible with the adult weapons. It was ingrained into me that firearms are dangerous and need to be treated with respect from a young age. I had it reinforced in ROTC. I consider myself responsible with guns, but I would never carry at work.
I have seen far to many poorly trained and egotistical people who think that having a gun makes them invincible. I do not want to be like them. Guns are a last resort, not the first line of defense. I don't want to put others in danger because I am trying to fire at someone else, when I could be trying to evacuate bystanders and protect them. I hate to say this, but CC holders with a gun in an active shooter situation quickly become targets not heroes.
To be quite truthful, even if I was so inclined, I cannot think of a single way to carry a firearm at work. Concealed, I cannot think of a single way to holster it that would be safe, comfortable, and not interfere with my ability to do my job. Carried openly, it becomes a target for physical aggression including someone trying to relieve you of it and could upset clients/patients.
It is, at least in my opinion, better to invest the time and effort into deescalation training.
i was thinkkng the same exact thing! I live in CA and would love to get a concealed weapons permit. I work in a trauma hospital that does not believe in metal detectors like so many other naive hospitals. I've always heard it's very difficult in CA to get a permit. Thanks for getting the discussion going.
i agree with you that it would be very difficult to carry at work but perhaps each unit should have a access to a gun for situations such as SB? This is a different world we are living in now unfortunately. We cannot remain sitting ducks.
Well, I said my piece in the previous thread on this topic and nothing I've read here has changed my mind. I still believe that many - not all - people itching to concealed carry have a fairly inflated idea of their own skills and ability to remain cool in a crisis situation. That there are so many cowboy wannabes around is the reason that I think concealed carry in the caregiving setting is a boneheaded idea and is more likely than not to result in a higher body count. And not a one o' yez has mentioned how you're gonna keep bystanders out of the crossfire or ensure control of your own weapon that you think no-one knows you have.
Keep bystanders out of the crossfire? It's an unfortunate reality that they will ALWAYS be part of the scene. Somehow you think that CCW holders, Police, Military, etc can somehow magically make bystanders just disappear from any shooting scene that isn't initiated by the badguy. You see, the "badguy" usually doesn't care about bystanders, they just care about their targets and too bad for the bystanders...
Beyond my own trigger discipline and marksmanship, there's not much I can do to limit injury to bystanders. About weapon retention, I won't tell you exactly what I'd do to retain control of my weapon. However, let's just say that you won't like it. Just don't reach for my weapon without my permission to do so and you'll never have to find out. Neither of those two topics came up in this thread until now.
Just in case you want to rely on armed security in the healthcare environment (those that don't use cops for this purpose), know that Security Guards often receive LESS training in use of firearms than many CCW holders do. You're more likely to to find "Cowboys" among those folks... and wanna-be cops too...
And in my facility it is either non existent or an 80 year old retiree with a nightstick and a static filled walkie talkie.
Lol same here. Our security is not armed, not even one. Another hospital in my area has one armed guard for each shift. Maybe that would be better than nothing.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Yea, ummm, no.
This is scary right here.
I don't know. An armed society is a polite society. I remember living in California. Every time there was a freeway shooting, everyone would be real nice and not cut each other off or flip the bird for a few weeks.
i agree with you that it would be very difficult to carry at work but perhaps each unit should have a access to a gun for situations such as SB? This is a different world we are living in now unfortunately. We cannot remain sitting ducks.
I think this kinda touches on the gist of why I would like to train and arm select employees. To have an immediate and "functional" deterrent to these lethal and debilitating threats that just can't be predicted. Bottom Line...the facility isn't going to pay for enough armed guards to effectively protect the campus at all times from any location. That cost is considered "non-productive" labor and doesn't generate income for the facility. Whereas, specially trained staff, who are there for their professional reasons, would not be an "extra cost" but yet be immediately available for action against a threat. I really appreciate this thread. I believe it is generating very productive input from everyone.
I think this kinda touches on the gist of why I would like to train and arm select employees. To have an immediate and "functional" deterrent to these lethal and debilitating threats that just can't be predicted. Bottom Line...the facility isn't going to pay for enough armed guards to effectively protect the campus at all times from any location. That cost is considered "non-productive" labor and doesn't generate income for the facility. Whereas, specially trained staff, who are there for their professional reasons, would not be an "extra cost" but yet be immediately available for action against a threat. I really appreciate this thread. I believe it is generating very productive input from everyone.
Keep bystanders out of the crossfire? It's an unfortunate reality that they will ALWAYS be part of the scene. Somehow you think that CCW holders, Police, Military, etc can somehow magically make bystanders just disappear from any shooting scene that isn't initiated by the badguy. You see, the "badguy" usually doesn't care about bystanders, they just care about their targets and too bad for the bystanders...
Beyond my own trigger discipline and marksmanship, there's not much I can do to limit injury to bystanders. About weapon retention, I won't tell you exactly what I'd do to retain control of my weapon. However, let's just say that you won't like it. Just don't reach for my weapon without my permission to do so and you'll never have to find out. Neither of those two topics came up in this thread until now.
Just in case you want to rely on armed security in the healthcare environment (those that don't use cops for this purpose), know that Security Guards often receive LESS training in use of firearms than many CCW holders do. You're more likely to to find "Cowboys" among those folks... and wanna-be cops too...
Well, as for the topic not coming up in this thread, don't you think that those of us who might be injured or killed by your bullets get to have something to say about the issue?
Sorry, but boasting about your "discipline" and dropping dark hints of what would happen if someone should reach for your gun somehow don't contribute to a sense of confidence in your skills.
Guns don't kill people ... but incompetent, panicked shooters do. I'd prefer not to be one of them. I cannot agree to concealed carry in a caregiving setting unless that carrier can demonstrate the ability to hit the broad side of a barn and function calmly in a shooting emergency and guarantee that s/he can maintain control of their weapon at all times.
I want to gauge opinions based on our CURRENT situation after the shooting yesterday in San Bernadino, CA. 
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
Yea, ummm, no.
This is scary right here.