Firearms

elkpark · Sep 19, 2015

Do you carry Mace then? I feel that one can never be too careful these days.

No. I take the usual "single girl in the city" safety precautions (being careful about where I go at night, remaining alert to my surroundings, locking the car and checking it before I get it in, etc., etc).

Like Joanna, I've lived in some rough areas in cities over the years, never considered getting a gun, have never had any serious problems.

elkpark · Sep 19, 2015

That's concerning. What are you expected to do if a patient attacks you then? Just stand there?

Psychiatric facilities provide employees with training (and annual retraining) in crisis de-escalation, self-protection, and restraint techniques employees are authorized to use. It's always smarter to de-escalate situations before they get to the point of someone getting attacked. And these situations do not occur as frequently as many people seem to believe.

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Sep 19, 2015

Thanks for all the input. It seems that these days tend to hold more violence than most, but as a PP indicated, the overall rate is lower than it once was.

I should've looked into it more in-depth before making assumptions based on what I see on the news (which tends to highlight violence more than anything else these days). I hope that everyone will continue to contribute their thoughts though!

Parakeet · Sep 19, 2015

All of these gun laws and prohibitions seem to me like the alcohol prohibition way back when. It did not stop the liquor trade, moonshiners just found another way around the law. I really don't see why forbidding guns to citizens does any good.....the criminals don't listen to the law, they will commit crimes, and it ends up disarming people who need to defend themselves. I read an article someplace that crime actually increases when people are not allowed to carry guns to protect themselves and others.

I myself do not carry a gun, as I cannot see well enough to hit the side of a barn. However, I have no problem with other people carrying concealed guns for self defense.

Just my two cents.

elkpark · Sep 19, 2015

I read an article someplace that crime actually increases when people are not allowed to carry guns to protect themselves and others.

Do you have a source for that, and was it actual research, or an opinion piece? I ask because the statistics I have seen over time have always said the opposite, that states with higher rates of gun ownership and carrying have higher crime rates (please note I'm referring to a correlation, not causation).

A few studies:

http://journalistsresource.org/studies/government/criminal-justice/right-carry-laws-revisiting-link-between-guns-crime

http://www.thetrace.org/2015/06/new-study-is-latest-to-find-that-higher-rates-of-gun-ownership-lead-to-higher-rates-of-violent-crime/

http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2815%2900072-0/abstract

http://www.nber.org/digest/feb01/w7967.html

RiskManager · Sep 19, 2015

^^^I have always wondered if those studies control for socioeconomic and other factors. For example, in the Seattle area, the articles in the local media and some academic papers suggest that most of our gun violence is from the local gang members, most of whom are minority populations on the lower end of the socioeconomic scale. It is not the local employees of Microsoft and Google that are roaming the streets shooting each other and committing armed robberies and therefore contributing to the gun crime statistics.

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Sep 19, 2015

^^^I have always wondered if those studies control for socioeconomic and other factors. For example, in the Seattle area, the articles in the local media and some academic papers suggest that most of our gun violence is from the local gang members, most of whom are minority populations on the lower end of the socioeconomic scale. It is not the local employees of Microsoft and Google that are roaming the streets shooting each other and committing armed robberies and therefore contributing to the gun crime statistics.

That's a curious thought. I'll have to look more into those articles when I have my computer with me.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2015

The media tends to highlight the worst of the worst. Their agenda is story telling. You do need to be cautious but real life is not as terrible as the media reports. One reason why I've quit watching the news.

I used to live in Toronto. I've lived in some upscale neighborhoods as well as the inner city red light district for years. If you paid attention to all the media reports, there's drive by shootings, stabbings, gang activity weekly in these areas. I've never had a problem, never thought about carrying.

I would be interested to read the reports that indicate crime increases when one is not allowed to carry firearms. Canadians don't carry guns and we aren't fearful or dying in the streets. Those types of reports are propaganda used to sell more guns.

theantichick · Sep 19, 2015

I have a concealed carry permit. I would never consider carrying while on duty at a hospital. The responsibility of keeping track of my firearm would distract from doing my job as a nurse. Also, while on duty, I don't feel a particular need. Should an armed attack situation occur, it's not likely I'd be able to use my firearm effectively anyway. There is rarely a clear field and line of fire in those situations, and I'm best off finding cover for me and my patients (if possible) and letting security and P.D. handle it.

Now, I do NOT like the regulations at most employers (not just hospitals) where you're prohibited from having your weapon in your vehicle. I have a gun safe in my car, and usually have a handgun secured in it. Granted, my employer is unlikely to demand to search my vehicle, but I don't like the policy being there in the first place.

FWIW, I don't actually carry on-body often because a) it's a royal PITA; and b) I rarely put myself in a situation where I feel that unsafe. I keep one in my car basically in case of a breakdown where I have to wait for help or walk somewhere at night.

RiskManager · Sep 19, 2015

That's a curious thought. I'll have to look more into those articles when I have my computer with me.

The Seattle City Council recently passed a tax on firearms and ammunition sold in the city limits. One of the recipients of the revenue will be Harborview Hospital, our Level 1 trauma center to help pay for the cost of care for uninsured gun violence trauma patients. Someone at the UW did a study and published a paper based on Harborview records and found that the majority of these patients were the local gangbangers, the gun trauma occurred in a criminal context and the majority of them were of minority populations. The Council decided that they should be provided with education to reduce gun violence.

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2015

I don't own a gun yet. When I do, I'll also have a permit to conceal and carry.

Violence doesn't just happen when you're at home.

brownbook · Sep 19, 2015

It took me about 15 seconds to Google the FBI site showing statistics for 2013...and the first 6 months of 2014....violent crime is decreasing.

Most people are killed by someone they know.

Paranoia will destroy ya.