The author, a doctor, makes the case that in our climate of daily random violence and desperate drug addicts, a doctor would be wise to have a gun in his office. He brings up the example of emergency rooms having metal detectors and bullet proof glass because shootings have actually occurred there. So he asks:
Would you not see a doctor if you knew he had a gun in his office?
To those who would fear ....... I ask you this, why would a doctor having a gun bother you? Do you live in fear that your physician is trying to kill you? I mean if he really wanted you dead, he could stab you with a scalpel or inject you with something lethal. He could do so with the tools of his profession in a much more efficient manner than with a gun.
Bottom line...nurses and physicians are not "more likely" to be the victim of a crime than a social worker, DA, a judge, etc.
Therefore, I do not support taking a firearm to a hospital just like I don't support taking a firearm to a school unless you happen to be a police officer or working security that day.
If anyone needs a gun, it should be the Pharmacist who works at the all-night pharmacies. Then again, most of these places, at night, lock the doors and they are behind bullet-proof glass. Negating the need.
If women walk out into a parking lot alone, that is a choice. Most shifts in a hospital ends at the same time. It may not be convenient, but female co-workers should be walking out together, especially in high-crime areas or lobby the hospital to have security stand outside in the parking lot during shift-change.
Imagine the testimony that would ensue. How many gun-instructor-self-defense expert witnesses would it take to convince a jury that in order to exercise the right of self defense, it is necessary to expose the gun, since it is impossible to fire the gun while it remains holstered under a blazer..
Have you ever been to court? Court TV is not how about 99% of the cases get handled in America.
The vast majority of people do not have the funds to get an entire team of legal experts. A legal expert can cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $150,000 plus costs. Who do you think pays for that? Do you think the attorney is going to shell out tens of thousands of dollars in experts on a low-felony charge when they know their client doesn't have the means to pay it back?
Heck no!
What do you mean "make a mockery" of the DA? Who is going to see it? Routine court cases, unless they are of public interest, are recorded by tape around here. No reporters, no TV. The court secretary won't even remember your name a week later.
My classmate works part-time as a welder. He had to take money out of savings in order to pay his attorney. Court TV is one of the few places where you can turn a courtroom into a circus. Around here they would tell the defense attorney to "get to the point".
The "right" of self defense is not determined by any gun-safety instructor...that is determined by the COURT SYSTEM...thus the entire reason for the trial that my classmate had to go through.
The "jury" took two hours to decide....according to him. It it was that cut and dry, then they should have voted and should have been done by lunch.
Bottom line...nurses and physicians are not "more likely" to be the victim of a crime than a social worker, DA, a judge, etc.
Therefore, I do not support taking a firearm to a hospital just like I don't support taking a firearm to a school unless you happen to be a police officer or working security that day.
If anyone needs a gun, it should be the Pharmacist who works at the all-night pharmacies. Then again, most of these places, at night, lock the doors and they are behind bullet-proof glass. Negating the need.
If women walk out into a parking lot alone, that is a choice. Most shifts in a hospital ends at the same time. It may not be convenient, but female co-workers should be walking out together, especially in high-crime areas or lobby the hospital to have security stand outside in the parking lot during shift-change.
In the case of the pharmacist- they still have to enter and exit the building, so the bullet proof glass is a moot point. Someone who wants to get the goods just has to wait until they are entering or leaving, so no that doesn't negate the need. It only negates the need while locked safely in the box. You can argue that they should keep it in the car- but that defeats the purpose.
As for women walking to the car- sure- but many women really don't want to rely on someone else in those situations. Further it doesn't take into consideration the person leaving early or coming in late (like, oh, say, after having worked two hours of overtime...) Shifts may end at the same time- but that doesn't mean that a) staff parks in the same area, or b) that staff leaves at the same time.
Bottom line I think alot of gun control laws are far less about the guns and far more about the control. Bureaucratic red tape for law abiding reasonable citizens to shut up the vocal minority who panicks at the sight of a butter knife.
And- once again- if one is more fearful of the potential risk in false accusations and legal bias and agenda based on carrying their firearm- one needs to NOT carry one...
Have you ever been to court? Court TV is not how about 99% of the cases get handled in America.
The vast majority of people do not have the funds to get an entire team of legal experts. A legal expert can cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $150,000 plus costs. Who do you think pays for that? Do you think the attorney is going to shell out tens of thousands of dollars in experts on a low-felony charge when they know their client doesn't have the means to pay it back?
Heck no!
What do you mean "make a mockery" of the DA? Who is going to see it? Routine court cases, unless they are of public interest, are recorded by tape around here. No reporters, no TV. The court secretary won't even remember your name a week later.
My classmate works part-time as a welder. He had to take money out of savings in order to pay his attorney. Court TV is one of the few places where you can turn a courtroom into a circus. Around here they would tell the defense attorney to "get to the point".
The "right" of self defense is not determined by any gun-safety instructor...that is determined by the COURT SYSTEM...thus the entire reason for the trial that my classmate had to go through.
The "jury" took two hours to decide....according to him. It it was that cut and dry, then they should have voted and should have been done by lunch.
Attorneys and courts do not use Webster's to define legal terms, they use Black's Law Dictionary.
Police officers only require a GED and a clean background check...not hardly the authority on legal interpretation. That is why they created DA's, Grand Jury's and Courts.
If you are contantly having to "show" your gun and call the police in "two" states...then I would really, really question the company you keep.
1. Police are only required to have a GED, huh? and a background check. They're relatively ignorant so they have to have the legal system and lawyers to 'splain to them their job. Madam, my profession only requires 4 semesters of post high school education so I suppose that's why we need doctors to tell us how to do our jobs. Same logic. Some complete foolishness.
2. You must live in Mayberry, RFD or some other predeluvian backwater. Our police academy has a very long line of applicants, selection process is highly competitive and applicants are required to have a bachelors degree. This has been the case for about 30 years.
3. So, Equinox is hangin' around with a bad crowd and you know this because she has shown her gun twice. Earlier you disparaged people who carry 24/7 in an oblique way. When I paraphrased that you were calling us "sleazy" you went postal, saying I'd put words in your mouth (or keyboard.)
4. Police are dumb. Equinox doesn't hang with classy people. And you're not an elitist.
5. Sure.
Vis. you're friend the welder. God bless him. Sometimes a citizen puts his life and treasure on the line to protect his rights.
Our statute: ... a person having, carrying or procuring from another person any dirk, dirk-knife, sword, sword cane, pistol, gun or other deadly weapon, who, in the presence of two or more persons, draws or exhibits any of such deadly weapons in a rude angry or threatening manner not in necessary self-defense, or who in any manner unlawfully uses that weapon in any fight or quarrel, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Equinox would be as pure as the driven snow in our state. Our DA has never brought a case like you describe to trial. One controversial case was of a woman who shot an unarmed man and killed him in a public parking lot. He was a known mental health patient/transient who wouldn't take his meds. He was yelling and approaching the woman and the vehicle with her children in it. She put several rounds in his chest and he was DRT (dead right there.) She was not arrested, charged, or tried. It was a righteous killing under our code. Had the man been a little less psychotic, seen the gun and stopped his approach, would she have been guilty of brandishing? Of course not.
in the case of the pharmacist- they still have to enter and exit the building, so the bullet proof glass is a moot point. someone who wants to get the goods just has to wait until they are entering or leaving, so no that doesn't negate the need. it only negates the need while locked safely in the box. you can argue that they should keep it in the car- but that defeats the purpose.
uh...i was referring to 24/7 pharmacies where there is staff available, uh...24/7...that's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week...which means, they do not close. i also mentioned that.
as for women walking to the car- sure- but many women really don't want to rely on someone else in those situations. further it doesn't take into consideration the person leaving early or coming in late (like, oh, say, after having worked two hours of overtime...) shifts may end at the same time- but that doesn't mean that a) staff parks in the same area, or b) that staff leaves at the same time.
again...that is a choice. i should be able to wear a sexy, half-naked club outfit and walk in the worst neighborhood in the middle of the night by myself in new york city without getting attacked...but if i make that choice, i am increasing my risk.
bottom line i think alot of gun control laws are far less about the guns and far more about the control. bureaucratic red tape for law abiding reasonable citizens to shut up the vocal minority who panicks at the sight of a butter knife.
i am a gun owner, but i have never in my life needed to buy a gun on demand, nor do i have a reason to fear a background check or have an issue of getting it registered. yes, you can buy a gun that was stolen, but once-upon a time it was legally registered to someone....which gives police a place and a location to start.
.... I'll just remain quiet on this one lawyer, err nurse...
Police officers only require a GED and a clean background check...not hardly the authority on legal interpretation. That is why they created DA's, Grand Jury's and Courts.
Wrong, most police departments require AAs and some require Bachelor's. Of course, by your logic I can just assume nurses don't know anything and should just consider doctors as being knowledgeable. Hmmm.
If you are contantly having to "show" your gun and call the police in "two" states...then I would really, really question the company you keep.
Why don't you read what people ACTUALLY wrote instead of trying to blindly insult them? Who, I REPEAT WHO, said they have to constantly show a gun? Maybe you should stop judging people eh? Really though, what does a nurse, that has never served in the military, that doesn't have a hoodlum brother, that doesn't consider family more important than anyone else, that doesn't have a gun or a concealed permit, that doesn't believe that protecting oneself is ultimately better than crying and waiting for police and being a victim and that doesn't actually know of what she speaks, doing judging others?
Just wait for the first time you become a victim. You'll change your mind QUICKLY.
I am so out of this argument, it's PASSED the line of ridiculousness. I wish I could live in Mayberry.
2. you must live in mayberry, rfd or some other predeluvian backwater. our police academy has a very long line of applicants, selection process is highly competitive and applicants are required to have a bachelors degree. this has been the case for about 30 years. .
your town is not the pristine example of how law enforcement is hired everywhere in america.
. 3. so, equinox is hangin' around with a bad crowd and you know this because she has shown her gun twice. earlier you disparaged people who carry 24/7 in an oblique way. when i paraphrased that you were calling us "sleazy" you went postal, saying i'd put words in your mouth (or keyboard.) .
if someone is constantly finding themselves in situations where the situation has got so bad that they have to "show" a weapon, then someone needs to take good hard look at their lifestyle, their friends, etc. i can understand that something purely random can happen to someone once...but if it happens over and over again, it's not quite so random anymore. those are choices. if you sleep with dogs, you'll get fleas.
. 4. police are dumb. equinox doesn't hang with classy people. and you're not an elitist. .
you said it..not me.
. our statute: ... a person having, carrying or procuring from another person any dirk, dirk-knife, sword, sword cane, pistol, gun or other deadly weapon, who, in the presence of two or more persons, draws or exhibits any of such deadly weapons in a rude angry or threatening mannernot in necessary self-defense, or who in any manner unlawfully uses that weapon in any fight or quarrel, is guilty of a misdemeanor. .
thank you for making my point!!!
oh..and when you say the da has "never" had a case like that...you have personally surveyed the thousands of cases that your da's office handles every year, eh?
. one controversial case was of a woman who shot an unarmed man and killed him in a public parking lot. he was a known mental health patient/transient who wouldn't take his meds. he was yelling and approaching the woman and the vehicle with her children in it. she put several rounds in his chest and he was drt (dead right there.) she was not arrested, charged, or tried. it was a righteous killing under our code. had the man been a little less psychotic, seen the gun and stopped his approach, would she have been guilty of brandishing? of course not..
depends on who is making the legal interpretation. a good da could just as easily make the case that she had enough time to get inside the car, lock the door and drive away, which can be done in seconds.
btw, if a da hears of a incident in an area and that the police did not charge the individual, they can independenty press charges themselves.
The question was posed on a talk show several years ago; maybe a local one, I don't remember; about arming classroom teachers. I am all for it. Why? Same reason pilots are armed. Not all pilots have volunteered their time off, their vacation days, their travel money getting to and from training to become FFDO's (Federal Flight Deck Officers) but many have and when you fly, hopefully one, or even two of them, is in the cockpit of the plane you are on. They also give up free time to do recurrent training and before ever getting chosen for the program had to go through extensive psychological training.
The deal is this: a person with the idea of causing trouble, whether in an airplane or a classroom or anyone in a hospital or clinic, would probably be less inclined to do so randomly because there's no way for them to know if their pilot, or that teacher, or that doc, nurse, RT, techin the clinic, is armed. Why would they pick on someone they know is armed?
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.
I don't care if they do take me to jail. I am at home alone a lot because my husband works nights. If I hear something, I am not going out of the bedroom to look for the person. They can take what ever they want out of this house, but if they get into this locked bedroom they are going to find me sitting up in bed with the gun pointed right at them and I WILL shoot them. I carry my gun everywhere (I live in Washington state) and it is easy to get a gun permit. When I lived in Texas, it was more involved to get a permit. You had to take a class and show proficiency with the weapon. Up here you just make an application, pay your $60 and get a permit if you pass the background check. I am about to buy a Smith and Wesson revolver with a laser. It really improves your aim. I always carry a revolver and if I have to be somewhere at night, that gun is always somewhere on my so that I can get to it easily. In Texas we had a law that after dark you could shoot someone even if they were just on your property. They did not have to be actually in your house. If they were breaking into your car in the driveway, you could shoot them. You can't do that up here. It is pretty dark around our house at night when I come home from work. I already had some guy waiting for me when I pulled up in my driveway, sitting in his car just staring at me. I showed my weapon, down by my side and he took off. I did not point the gun at him because that is considered assault. I hope I never have to use it. I hate the idea of killing someone and I know that it would be a horrible experience. I just hope it never comes to that.
so- 24hr pharmacies have staff that live there and never leave to go home? right. staff is available- but shifts change. the place is locked/bulletproof glass/whatever only when people are safely locked inside the room/area. they do have to enter/exit at some point. tactically that is a vulnerable time- anyone who wants what is inside the locked area just has to wait until someone enters/exits.
as for it being a choice- sure- but so what? people should have that choice available to them- the choice to be self reliant or to have to entrust their safety to someone else.
i don't know what your last part is referencing- i don't have an issue with gun *licensing*- only asinine gun *control* laws- such as those relating to what type of gun one may legally own, where one may carry said gun (as a legally licensed person) etc.
uh...i was referring to 24/7 pharmacies where there is staff available, uh...24/7...that's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week...which means, they do not close. i also mentioned that.
again...that is a choice. i should be able to wear a sexy, half-naked club outfit and walk in the worst neighborhood in the middle of the night by myself in new york city without getting attacked...but if i make that choice, i am increasing my risk.
i am a gun owner, but i have never in my life needed to buy a gun on demand, nor do i have a reason to fear a background check or have an issue of getting it registered. yes, you can buy a gun that was stolen, but once-upon a time it was legally registered to someone....which gives police a place and a location to start.
I don't care if they do take me to jail. I am at home alone a lot because my husband works nights. If I hear something, I am not going out of the bedroom to look for the person. They can take what ever they want out of this house, but if they get into this locked bedroom they are going to find me sitting up in bed with the gun pointed right at them and I WILL shoot them. I carry my gun everywhere (I live in Washington state) and it is easy to get a gun permit. When I lived in Texas, it was more involved to get a permit. You had to take a class and show proficiency with the weapon. Up here you just make an application, pay your $60 and get a permit if you pass the background check. I am about to buy a Smith and Wesson revolver with a laser. It really improves your aim. I always carry a revolver and if I have to be somewhere at night, that gun is always somewhere on my so that I can get to it easily. In Texas we had a law that after dark you could shoot someone even if they were just on your property. They did not have to be actually in your house. If they were breaking into your car in the driveway, you could shoot them. You can't do that up here. It is pretty dark around our house at night when I come home from work. I already had some guy waiting for me when I pulled up in my driveway, sitting in his car just staring at me. I showed my weapon, down by my side and he took off. I did not point the gun at him because that is considered assault. I hope I never have to use it. I hate the idea of killing someone and I know that it would be a horrible experience. I just hope it never comes to that.
I can ditto to just about eveything you just posted. I, too, live in Washington State, and the guy that comes through my front door will be met with a big surprise. I've never had anybody waiting for me when I got home, and I hope you never do again either.
BabyLady, BSN, RN
2,300 Posts
Bottom line...nurses and physicians are not "more likely" to be the victim of a crime than a social worker, DA, a judge, etc.
Therefore, I do not support taking a firearm to a hospital just like I don't support taking a firearm to a school unless you happen to be a police officer or working security that day.
If anyone needs a gun, it should be the Pharmacist who works at the all-night pharmacies. Then again, most of these places, at night, lock the doors and they are behind bullet-proof glass. Negating the need.
If women walk out into a parking lot alone, that is a choice. Most shifts in a hospital ends at the same time. It may not be convenient, but female co-workers should be walking out together, especially in high-crime areas or lobby the hospital to have security stand outside in the parking lot during shift-change.