I know that gun ownership is a hot button issue but I was just wondering how you all feel about nurses being gun owners. I recently acquired a very nice hunting rifle that was handed down from my dad. None of the boys wanted it so I jumped at it since I had many happy memories of hunting and target shooting with my dad. It is a stunningly Beautiful Henry Golden Boy in perfect condition. I have not gone shooting in almost 30 years so I took it to the range and familiarized myself again with all aspects of the gun and how to clean and store it with a range master.
Someone at work asked me what I had done that weekend and I said I went shooting. She arched her eyebrows and said something guns weren't very nurse-like.
This is not a handgun - but a family heirloom. I doubt I'll ever shoot it off the range but I may give it to my son when he is a grown man.
I'm a nurse. We own 3 guns in my house. We're retired Air Force. We have a few nurses who are constantly getting trashed at bars or at home...can I judge that as not nurse like because I don't drink?
I protect my patients from harm when I work as a nurse. I go through training and develop skills and critical thinking in order to help me fulfill that role as a nurse.
I protect myself and my family (and anyone who needs it) from harm when I carry my firearm (licensed to do so) with me on a daily basis. I go through training and develop skills and critical thinking in order to help me fulfill that role as a sheepdog.
The wonderful thing about nurses owning guns is that in the very, very slim chance any of us would ever have to shoot someone is that we can then render appropriate aid. Remember folks, we have a duty to render aid, and our actions after any shooting will be highly scrutinized in court.
In a self-defense situation where deadly force is warranted, do not render aid unless you are 1000% certain that no harm can come to you (in other words: don't). If anything you should be dialing 911 and bugging out to a safe location.
I don't CC or even own a gun, but considering taking my daughter to a range. She recently took up Nordic skiing and absolutely loves it, and is quite good at it. (Her coach actually thought she was lying when she said she was new to it; then told her she had real talent once she convinced him she was telling the truth.) She's talked about adding biathlon if she continues beyond high school which is a combo of skiing and marksmanship (with rifle.)
I guess that makes me un-nurse-like and unmotherly?
I find it ironic that we're speaking so carelessly about guns, knowing what happened to the family of Allnurses founder. They had the constitutional right to be alive and safe in their own house. It really saddens me. Exercise your rights, but don't be so casual.
Hi, Don't know if it's because I live in Texas or not, but when this topic came up at my hospital about 60 percent of my colleagues were gun owners. We go shooting together and it helps relieve stress and is a team building activity. As a matter of fact, several of us just went shooting yesterday. I don't see any conflict with being a nurse. We live in a violent society and I have the same rights as others to protect myself. A while back, someone broke into our house while I was home alone. All it took was him hearing the "ratchet sound" of my shotgun for him to take off running. I live in a rural area and would not want to have to wait for the sheriff to get here.
In response to the anti democrat tirade, just because one is a democrat doesn't mean they are necessarily anti gun. I own 4 guns and am getting another for christmas. A super cool revolver that can shoot bullets or shotgun shells! Wow. Can't wait to take that out to practice, but I also supported Bernie Sanders and later Hillary. I know many other democrats who are gun owners. I support sane responsible gun ownership. The problem with the NRA is like with many groups a small radical loud minority takes over. Background checks and devices to keep kids from shooting the guns make sense. BTW I'm also a grandma who lives in the country where we sometimes get burglers and others up to no good and can't wait for the sheriff. But I also like to target shoot with my hubby. It helps relieve stress and makes for friendly competition. Just make sure you're safe.
Husband was a cop and is a hunter so we must have guns in the house. I hate guns even though I was in the Army nurse corps where we had to qualify with pistols and m16s. I am not aware of any RN where i work that owns a gun. We are in a gloriously blue anti trumpy state though.
Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, Cardiac/Renal, Ortho,FNP.
I am a little perplexed as to why the subject of gun ownership is controversial? Go back 100 years and you were nuts if you didn't have at least a rifle/shotgun in your home. You couldn't count on calling police if something happened. If you lived in rural America your very life was at risk every time you took a walk in the woods. Heck, I even had a fist fight with a Bobcat this summer in my fenced-in back yard in the middle of a suburban neighborhood! Burglars and thugs are the least of my worries, I'm on the lookout for getting my face mauled off every time I take the dog out. So to answer the question..yes...Kimber Solo 9mm with Crimson laser grip and a .22 cal air rifle that's just as lethal. Loaded. Sometimes the Kimber is in my cars' glove box but not in my office. I'm not up to concealed carry, not because I'm against it but b/c I'm fat and toting a gun around doesn't sound comfortable. Just keeping it real.
Intimidation: A study of battered women in California found that, if a gun was in the home, it was used to threaten and harm women in 66% of cases. Fewer than 7% of these women had used the gun in self-defense. A national random survey found that hostile uses of guns for intimidation, such as brandishing the firearm during argument, or going outside to shoot the gun during an altercation, occurred more frequently than self-defense uses.
Accidents: Death certificate data from 2003 to 2007 finds that 680 Americans per year were killed through accidental firearm use. Data from the National Violent Death Reporting System finds that half of these deaths occurred in the home, half of the victims were under 25, and half of all deaths were inflicted by someone other than the owner of the gun (e.g. friend, family member).
Suicides: More Americans kill themselves with guns than all other methods combined. Over ten case-controlled studies find that guns increase the risk of suicide occurring at the home for all members of the household. It is also not the case that gun owners are inherently more suicidal—this has been tested by numerous studies, and the relationship between gun ownership and suicide appears causal. Because most suicide attempts occur during transient risk periods of impulsivity, lasting less than five minutes, reducing the availability of firearms is one of the most effective methods of suicide reduction.
Homicides: From 2003 to 2007, 33 Americans per day were murdered with guns. A very small minority of these homicides were planned, with a large proportion of them occurring during hostile arguments over domestic problems. These arguments escalate and, in the presence of a gun, often lead to fatal consequences. One of the most cited studies examining homicide in the home compares 400 homicide victims killed in their home throughout 3 metropolitan areas. After controlling for multiple variables, the study found that the presence of a gun was a strong risk factor for homicide in the home. This association was driven almost exclusively by homicide committed at the hands of a family member of intimate acquaintance.
The data are clear: a gun in the home does not make you any safer.
Yep, my gun stays locked up under a dresser and the bullets in a separate location. Yes, I agree, it is about as useful as a paperweight. However if the Zombies attack they are pretty slow moving, so then we will have time to load up the pistol.
I can't imagine where all you nurses live that your lives are in danger of armed intruders???? Trailer courts? Ghettos? Maybe you all need to move to safer neighborhoods?
Intimidation: A study of battered women in California found that, if a gun was in the home, it was used to threaten and harm women in 66% of cases. Fewer than 7% of these women had used the gun in self-defense. A national random survey found that hostile uses of guns for intimidation, such as brandishing the firearm during argument, or going outside to shoot the gun during an altercation, occurred more frequently than self-defense uses.
Accidents: Death certificate data from 2003 to 2007 finds that 680 Americans per year were killed through accidental firearm use. Data from the National Violent Death Reporting System finds that half of these deaths occurred in the home, half of the victims were under 25, and half of all deaths were inflicted by someone other than the owner of the gun (e.g. friend, family member).
Suicides: More Americans kill themselves with guns than all other methods combined. Over ten case-controlled studies find that guns increase the risk of suicide occurring at the home for all members of the household. It is also not the case that gun owners are inherently more suicidal—this has been tested by numerous studies, and the relationship between gun ownership and suicide appears causal. Because most suicide attempts occur during transient risk periods of impulsivity, lasting less than five minutes, reducing the availability of firearms is one of the most effective methods of suicide reduction.
Homicides: From 2003 to 2007, 33 Americans per day were murdered with guns. A very small minority of these homicides were planned, with a large proportion of them occurring during hostile arguments over domestic problems. These arguments escalate and, in the presence of a gun, often lead to fatal consequences. One of the most cited studies examining homicide in the home compares 400 homicide victims killed in their home throughout 3 metropolitan areas. After controlling for multiple variables, the study found that the presence of a gun was a strong risk factor for homicide in the home. This association was driven almost exclusively by homicide committed at the hands of a family member of intimate acquaintance.
The data are clear: a gun in the home does not make you any safer.
Yep, my gun stays locked up under a dresser and the bullets in a separate location. Yes, I agree, it is about as useful as a paperweight. However if the Zombies attack they are pretty slow moving, so then we will have time to load up the pistol.
I can't imagine where all you nurses live that your lives are in danger of armed intruders???? Trailer courts? Ghettos? Maybe you all need to move to safer neighborhoods?
I have no illusions about Gun safety my rifle will be locked in loaded in a gun safe. With a lever lock. I enjoy hunting and target shooting. I also have a compound bow and am pretty accurate. But it is also stored safely away when not in use. I would never leave a gun out on a night stand. As for domestic violence situations - "Get out and don't go back"
I can't tell you how many women we help out of these situations in psych and they just keep going back for more.
Steffy44
98 Posts
I'm a nurse. We own 3 guns in my house. We're retired Air Force. We have a few nurses who are constantly getting trashed at bars or at home...can I judge that as not nurse like because I don't drink?