Firearms

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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?

Specializes in Oncology.

"Easy access to guns is a poor choice in conflict resolution." Really? How often have you had successful conflict resolution with someone who has a gun pointed at you? Say, in a movie theater? How's that conflict resolution going to work for you?

Specializes in Float Pool-Med-Surg, Telemetry, IMCU.

This guy sums up how I feel. There's some rather spicy language so if you're easily offended you might want to skip it.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

There must be a correlation between carrying a gun and mental health problems because people who carry guns get whack-a-doodle about the power that gun imparts.

Then I'd be your worst nightmare. I have a mental illness and am a gun owner (though my firearms have been with my daughter since last fall when I was hospitalized for suicidal ideation). However, I don't see myself as "whack-a-doodle" and don't really appreciate the inference that all of us with mental health diagnoses and guns are a menace to society. JMHO.

Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
Then I'd be your worst nightmare. I have a mental illness and am a gun owner (though my firearms have been with my daughter since last fall when I was hospitalized for suicidal ideation). However, I don't see myself as "whack-a-doodle" and don't really appreciate the inference that all of us with mental health diagnoses and guns are a menace to society. JMHO.

If I can read my own words correctly, I said "people who carry guns get whack-a-doodle". If you are mentally healthy enough to realize suicidal ideation and carrying a gun is not a good combination, then you don't qualify for whack-a-doodlehood.

More specifically I do mean people who physically have to have a firearm on their person as referenced by OP even to the point of taking it onto hospital property.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
We don't comprehensively ban cars because someone might speed, nor do we comprehensively ban guns, but we do say there are some people who should no longer be allowed to drive a car, there are places where cars shouldn't be allowed, and there are types and characteristics of cars that shouldn't be legal, all pretty reasonable rules whether you're talking about cars or guns.

I can't think of any type of person who would not be legally allowed to drive a car. I can think of kinds of people who have limits placed on where they drive. Can you give me and example of what you are referring to?

Similarly I am unaware of any car characteristic that is illegal. Can you give me an example or two?

Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
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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.

New Zealanders arent allowed to carry firearms as a rule, and we arent fearful or being attacked all the time.

Thats not to say we don't have crime its just not as wide spread as the pro gun control lobby would suggest

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

It is my belief that it is the American's nature to slaughter each other (and people around the world, most recently evidenced by hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis) on a regular basis. I believe firearms are often used for this because they are effective and available, but in their absence, substitutes would be readily found. I believe the root cause of Americans desire to kill is the religious extremism that is rampant in this country, as compared to the more civilized and advanced countries.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
New Zealanders arent allowed to carry firearms as a rule, and we arent fearful or being attacked all the time.

Thats not to say we don't have crime its just not as wide spread as the pro gun control lobby would suggest

I used to live and work in New Zealand. While there I was able to purchase 2 firearms (a rifle and a shotgun) with very little difficulty or hassle. I carried them around the South Island on hunting trips without any difficulty.

Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
"Easy access to guns is a poor choice in conflict resolution." Really? How often have you had successful conflict resolution with someone who has a gun pointed at you? Say, in a movie theater? How's that conflict resolution going to work for you?

I have thus far always had successful conflict resolution with regards to someone who has a gun pointed at me in every movie theater I have ever been to. I have totally avoided any such conflict. I win.

As far as the fear based fantasy that I will someday, somehow be in a movie theater facing someone pointing a gun at me, I can say clearly, I don't know. There are a lot of factors that would affect "my chances" The other person's intentions, political affiliations, blood alcohol level, satisfying home life situation, previous history of hating fat, old, white guys etc.

I do believe that if I did have a gun, my chances of being gravely injured or killed are exponentially higher.

Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
I used to live and work in New Zealand. While there I was able to purchase 2 firearms (a rifle and a shotgun) with very little difficulty or hassle. I carried them around the South Island on hunting trips without any difficulty.

Your point?

People have them for hunting and they have to have a license.

A person has to have a special endorsement on their licence to own a pistol, and can only use it for target shooting and can not carry a concealed weapon. A person cant have a license for a gun if they have a history of drug and alcohol abuse, a history of violence, in a relationship with someone who has been deemed unfit to own a gun or indicated they intent to use it for self defense

We dont live in fear without having easy access to guns

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Your point?

I was responding to this comment you made:

New Zealanders arent allowed to carry firearms as a rule

My experience in New Zealand is that people ARE allowed to carry firearms. I did it, as did the Kiwis I hunted with.

A person has to have a special endorsement on their licence to own a pistol,

The owner of the shop where I purchased my firearms told me that for all practical purposes, handgun where not available in New Zealand, with only certain exceptions, and not at all to a non citizen like me.

We dont live in fear without having easy access to guns

I don't either.

Specializes in Utilization Management.
I can't think of any type of person who would not be legally allowed to drive a car. I can think of kinds of people who have limits placed on where they drive. Can you give me and example of what you are referring to?

Similarly I am unaware of any car characteristic that is illegal. Can you give me an example or two?

In Florida, a fourth DUI conviction comes with permanent revocation of the driver's license with no chance of a hardship license. That would be an example of a person who is not legally allowed to drive a car.

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