With the current news over gun control and gun rights legislation being pushed through Congress as a result of the tragedies of Aurora, CO, Newtown, CT and the others like them, the thought of concealed carry among healthcare workers has got my attention peaked. Recently, another Allnurses member started a thread (up to 22 pages presently) about what nurses can do as a result of these horrific events.
This post is not meant to reflect my personal stance on this issue, although I can inform that I am not a CCL holder (however interested), nor is it meant to be a bashing session from either side, but I am interested in seeing how many individuals have their concealed carry license, and if they carry while they are at work (and, yes I am well aware of the legal stance healthcare facilities take as being gun free zones)?
I, also, am aware of some of our members being both nurses and current/former law enforcement officers, so what is your take on this issue?
I am from Canada, where guns for anything other than hunting are VERY uncommon. Because of this and the general laid-back, non-violent mentality there I used to be pretty anti-gun. My opinion on that has changed quite a bit, especially since I moved to a city with a substantially higher violent crime rate. And since I became a mother. I would die, or kill with no hesitation for that little girl, if anyone were to threaten her safety.
There was recently a possibility I might get a job at an inner city hospital, night shift. When my fiance found out he started gun shopping for me. The idea of me walking to and from my car in the parking lot in the dark scared him, and he wanted me to be able to defend myself. When I asked him about getting a taser instead, he explained how you have one shot with a taser, and however many your clip will hold with a gun. Since I have terrible aim, and would also like to be able to stay safe, I agreed on the gun.
I would definitely not bring it on whatever unit I worked. I would leave it in a locked place. It would not be for use DURING work.
I just don't get, with all the threads we see on AN about violence against nurses, threats made to us by disgruntled patients and their families, etc...Why is it so crazy to want to protect ourselves?
Jewels, I am Canadian too in Vancouver. I think it is only in very limited situations where you would be licensed to carry a gun outside of range/hunting (yuck) situations so I don't know if you would bf able to carry walking to your car I the dark. Even handguns are harder to obtain license for vs shooting rifles as far as I understand.
Jewels, I am Canadian too in Vancouver. I think it is only in very limited situations where you would be licensed to carry a gun outside of range/hunting (yuck) situations so I don't know if you would bf able to carry walking to your car I the dark. Even handguns are harder to obtain license for vs shooting rifles as far as I understand.
Like I said in a further post, I am now in Atlanta.
I can only say that if a patient or patient's family member ever has me at gunpoint, I hope like hell one of my co-workers has broken the rules and carried his/her gun to work and that he/she is gutsy enough to pull the trigger.
I spend more time at the desk than most nurses, so I'm the first person that gets their face blown off. When I start carrying, if I feel a visitor that's been a horse's butt might come back later armed, I won't be hesitating to go to my car and carry it in. I'll work out the legal issues later. And polish my resume. I can hear it now. "Thanks for saving lives. You know we have to fire you, right?" lol
I dont feel the need to carry a weapon. In many occasions you would not have the time to use it. In other cases it may be used against you. Many firearms owners seem to be careless in the handling of their weapons and the fewer around the happier I am.
What if your manger told you to bring in your gun and there was a vac outcome related to someone else getting their hands on it? What if you needed to use it and there was a serious injury/ fatality? What if innocent person was harmed. Potential life altering scenarios for yourself and your employer.
Yeah, almost as life altering as everyone being killed by a kook that comes in armed, against people with no weapons whatsoever.
Everyone should carry. Open carry would be even better...Just like in the old days.
Our instructor recommended against open carry, as you would be the first target to get rid of if, for example, someone goes into a convenience store with the intention of robbing it.
Well of course it is. We've got Canadians here saying how well more guns are solving the problem. More guns in Georgia than Canada, and Georgia has more gun violence. So obviously more guns is working, or, wait...
we have a new code at our hosp "silver" for shooter. it paged its duck and cover or barricade. Our rent a cops dont carry and wont intervene in a code green. all we are equipped is CPI non violent intervention training, scary for us nurses. the hosp i switched to is more of a community hosp and no psych unit so not as many crazies coming in.
carrielwb
8 Posts
Jewels, I am Canadian too in Vancouver. I think it is only in very limited situations where you would be licensed to carry a gun outside of range/hunting (yuck) situations so I don't know if you would bf able to carry walking to your car I the dark. Even handguns are harder to obtain license for vs shooting rifles as far as I understand.