Firearms

[cracklingkraken]

I thought this was an interesting discussion that happened to pop-up on a certain social media site. How many of you conceal carry? And what do you think about prohibiting firearms on hospital property?

I think with the increasing violence these days, safety is a major concern for everyone. How do you protect yourself and still abide by the rules set by your facility?

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Responding to my earlier post as "one of the dumbest....."

Well thank you. I was absolutely serious.

Furthermore, because I have a different view than some of you does not make my post dumb. I very clearly posed a question.

We should be able to respectfully disagree. That is the point of these forums.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Az, your point about HIV and the worried well is a good one and, in general, I have no problem with concealed carry. Perhaps it's because I tend to avoid crowds anyway.

On the other hand, couldn't the same thing be said of those who see muggers around every corner? Like I said before, some of the posts I've seen in this thread have been so dismissive that they put the hairs up on the back of my neck.

If a concealed carrier is that dismissive of a rational concern about the unintended damage that can be inflicted by inexpert shooters, what does that say about their sense of responsibility for their own behavior? Or their grip on the reality of shooting someone?

The OP concerns specifically, CC at work. I have no choice about being there. When that bullet leaves the muzzle of your gun, you have zero control over where it goes. That means I have to trust that not only can you hit only what you're aiming at, but that you have the training to do so in an adrenaline-drenched crisis.

Nothing I've read here convinces me that CC in a hospital work setting is a good idea. To and from work is fine by me and none of my business anyhow. Locked in a safe in your locker, ditto. But next to me in the nurses' station? Nope, I don't agree with it.

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

The OP concerns specifically, CC at work. I have no choice about being there. When that bullet leaves the muzzle of your gun, you have zero control over where it goes. That means I have to trust that not only can you hit what you're aiming at, but that you have the training to do so in an adrenaline-drenched crisis.

Actually, the OP was about CC on hospital property, not necessarily in the facility. It was more to do with the hospitals that ban firearms from their property.

But others have assumed about CCing in the workplace, which is fine. I've learned a lot from most of the posts.

[heron, ASN, RN]

OP - pretty much everything I've written applies to property, too - but I draw a distinction between facility grounds and inside the facility building. For me, inside the building is a hard no. Outside the building on the grounds is fuzzier.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Your usage of "most dumbest" is ironic.

I am pretty sure that English is a second language for Pinay RN.

[Bill E Rubin]

I asked a question several pages back, and I've not seen it answered yet. Admittedly, I haven't been on here in the last several days, however, so I might have missed it.

The question was, What is it about the arbitrary line that someone drew on a paper map somewhere defining "hospital property" that makes the "bad guys" suddenly not want to do harm to anyone, and at the same time makes the "good guys", who may very well carry everywhere else in their lives, suddenly untrustworthy within its confines?

If a person can carry safely at the grocery, at the theater, at the mall, whatever, within the law, and do no harm to anyone at all in the process, what makes the hospital an unsafe place for him or her to do so?

Again, I have no intention of carrying while on shift, but the policy some people seem to favor leaves that safe carrier unarmed and defenseless all the way to and from their time clocked in in that building, until they arrive back home. What harm does that pistol do locked in the locker? OTOH, the nurse doing so may well find herself (or himself, for that matter) the intended victim of some mope who thinks that scrubs mean you have drugs on you, or who doesn't care about that, but sees you as a good target to rape. (Not all rapists are heterosexual, after all) SimonJester's post about the 1.5 mile walk to and from the car is positively chilling.

While I don't agree with many of the posters here who, paraphrased (and without intent on my part to mock,) seem to be saying, "look, guns R bad, mmmkay?", I would like to commend my fellow members who have kept the discussion peaceful and polite. That, sadly, is a rarity in the online discussions about the carry of firearms, at least the ones I've seen where mixed views are held. So... thank you, members, guides, mods, and admins, for keeping it civil. (mostly)

Bill

OP - pretty much everything I've written applies to property, too - but I draw a distinction between facility grounds and inside the facility building. For me, inside the building is a hard no. Outside the building on the grounds is fuzzier.

[heron, ASN, RN]

I've said it before, the difference is that I have no choice about being at work ... as I said, to and from work or in a parking lot where I'm not, y'all can have a party since I'm much less likely to even be around let alone caught in the crossfire. But I have zero choice about who's standing next to me in the nurses' station or being there myself.

Frankly, I believe that a cc permit means nothing as far as competence in a crunch is concerned. This is the main reason why I do not agree with concealed carry inside the hospital.

I don't allow guns in my home either, for the same reason.

[PinayUSA]

I am pretty sure that English is a second language for Pinay RN.

Negative

US school system, I was more interested in chasing girls and playing sports and hunting and fishing in High School than English class, I found it very boring....

[Farawyn]

Negative

US school system, I was more interested in chasing girls and playing sports and hunting and fishing in High School than English class, I found it very boring....

It sounds like you had the most funnest time in HS!

[azhiker96, BSN, RN]

The question was, What is it about the arbitrary line that someone drew on a paper map somewhere defining "hospital property" that makes the "bad guys" suddenly not want to do harm to anyone, and at the same time makes the "good guys", who may very well carry everywhere else in their lives, suddenly untrustworthy within its confines?

Of course, there is nothing about any arbitrary line that changes behavior or abilities of people who cross it.

I don't carry at work for three reasons.

First, my hospital has signs posted at all entrances that weapons are prohibited. Being a law abiding CCW permit holder, I cannot legally carry in a business with that posted.

Secondly, I work at a safety net hospital that cares for all people including prisoners and wards of the state hospital. Our guards are armed and we always have deputies, correctional officers, and detention officers on site who are also armed. I leave security to them and they leave patient care to me.

Finally, most patient care is up close and personal. I have to get next to my patient for nearly everything I do. I don't want to worry about my patients finding out I have a gun. If that happened, some of them would worry about the gun. Others would attempt to take my gun. Neither of which helps me in giving them good care.

[CarryThatWeight, BSN]

I've said it before, the difference is that I have no choice about being at work ... as I said, to and from work or in a parking lot where I'm not, y'all can have a party since I'm much less likely to even be around let alone caught in the crossfire. But I have zero choice about who's standing next to me in the nurses' station or being there myself.

Frankly, I believe that a cc permit means nothing as far as competence in a crunch is concerned. This is the main reason why I do not agree with concealed carry inside the hospital.

I don't allow guns in my home either, for the same reason.

You have no choice about who is next to you in a movie theater, grocery store, etc. They may be carrying. Ignorance is bliss, right? Even if someone is carrying at the hospital, most CHL holders do not let anyone know, as we were all taught that in class. So you wouldn't be aware in that situation either.

[heron, ASN, RN]

So ... are you saying that what I don't know won't hurt me?

Besides, the OP was pretty specific about cc on hospital grounds, not grocery stores or movie theaters. Also, I have a choice about going to a movie or shopping in a given store. I don't have a choice about being at work, practically speaking.

I think it's reasonable to assume that a hospital would have a significantly higher concentration of out-of-control people. I'm not just talking about bad guys looking to score or dangerously mentally ill people, either.

In my view, a cc permit does not indicate that you have a realistic idea of your own expertise or ability to think clearly and react responsibly in a crisis. Nor does it mean that you can keep your weapon safe from someone intent on becoming a bad guy with your gun.

Once that bullet leaves the muzzle of your gun, you have zero control over where it goes. In my opinion, in a hospital the risk/benefit ratio just isn't worth it.