Most Americans have strong feelings about gun control, whether in favor of more or less. Legislation has even been passed restricting physicians from discussing guns with patients. What is your opinion about healthcare professionals discussing safekeeping of guns in the home?
Gun ownership and regulation is a very emotional issue in the U.S. and there has been strong reaction to whether physicians and other healthcare providers should be involved in doing more to curb gun related injuries and deaths. I would like to hear some of your opinions regarding physician involvement, but first let's look at some of the gun statistics in the U.S.
More than 108,000 people are shot per year in murders, assaults, suicides, suicide attempts, unintentional shootings or by police intervention.
* More than 32,000 of them die.
* The U.S. has the most gun homicides of any developed nation. 29.7 per 100,000.
* Everyday 297 people are shot.
* 89 people die.
* 31 of them are murdered.
* 55 are suicides.
* 2 are killed unintentionally.
* 1 is killed by police.
* 1 is unknown intent.
* One in five deaths are people ages 15-29.
Over 17,000 American children and teens are injured or killed each year due to gun violence.
* 2,677 of those children die.
* Nearly 48 youth are shot per day including 7 fatalities.
* 5 are murdered and 2 are suicides.
1 in 3 homes with children have guns.
* 42% of parents with guns keep at least one unlocked.
* 25% of parents with guns keep at least loaded.
* 3 in 4 children know where firearms are kept in the home.
(Statistics; bradycampaign.org).
It has been suggested that clinicians could play a major role in reducing children's access to guns by asking if there is a gun in the home, and if so, counseling on firearm storage practices. One study showed that patients who received counseling on firearm storage were more likely to make a change in storage practice than patients who did not receive counseling. (64% vs 33%). (J Am Board Fam.Pract).
Pediatrician's offices and hospitals routinely give out infant and car seats, would it also be appropriate to distribute trigger locks and lockboxes? Firearm related injuries are a public health issue, so should there be public health initiatives regarding firearms such as there have been for reducing tobacco, toy and motor vehicle related deaths?
1. What does it tell you? And what would you do about it?
2. Nobody mentioned it because it wasn't in the scope of this thread. However, you are now saying it should have been and haranguing people for not talking about it?
3. Firearms safety training for children is a great idea. I think that all kids should be educated about firearms to the extent that they could safely recognize, handle, and safety/unload a gun so that if they encountered one it would not have to be left for an uneducated younger child to find while they went off to report it. I think that is achievable.
I also think kids with their parents permission should have access to an actual firearm and safety class with air rifles or .22s through school. I think it would make kids safer and demystify and remove the special aura that Hollywood has given guns. I also think that would be politically unpopular in most schools and probably we could spend money better in most districts.
( numbering added by me)
1. If a parent got bent over a question about a child's living conditions, I would wonder what they might be withholding. It would prompt me to pay closer attention to indirect indications of problems in the child, since the parent is obviously unwilling to be honest. Think of it as a variant of the "significant negative".
2. Neither was the second amendment, immigrants, abortion or ranchers' monetary losses due to predation. At least my observation had something to do with the safety of children living with guns.
And "haranguing"? Two sentences expressing my observation of the discussion is "haranguing"? Seriously?
3. Here I totally agree and have proposed pretty much the same thing every time the subject comes up. And pretty much every time, the suggestion was totally ignored by other participants in those discussion (aeb the course taken by this thread following your post). This implies that the children who might be damaged or killed because of owner incompetence are of no consequence to those participants. Actually trying to solve the problem has become irrelevant. Like the man said, "Stuff happens".
The Federalist Papers which clearly outline the thoughts ad intentions of the original framer of the constitution define a militia as volunteer citizens army - ready to take up arms if necessary to protect the populace from previous abuse of Government. Such as claiming of their private lands and quartering soldiers in private homes.
Example of State Militia is the Texas State Guard they report directly to the Governor of Texas at all times.
"Greg Abbott incited more distrust by ordering a Texas militia to keep the real U.S. military under a watchful eye to prevent any violations of the Constitution and Texans' liberties. Abbott sent a letter instructing the Commander of the Texas State Guard, a state militia and not the real National Guard,†to monitor the military's movements and update the governor's office. Abbott issued an official Tweet exacerbating Texans' paranoia about federal tyranny that read; I've ordered the Texas State Guard to monitor Jade Helm 15 to safeguard Texans' constitutional rights, private property & civil liberties.†"
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
This thread is about asking about guns/firearms in the home.....PLEASE STICK TO TOPIC
Pediatrician's offices and hospitals routinely give out infant and car seats, would it also be appropriate to distribute trigger locks and lockboxes? Firearm related injuries are a public health issue, so should there be public health initiatives regarding firearms such as there have been for reducing tobacco, toy and motor vehicle related deaths?
Actually it is illegal for a doctor to inquire about gun ownership in some states per the article I read.
Florida, Missouri and Montana, that have state laws prohibiting physicians from asking about firearms ownership
Doctors can loose their license if they share information about gun owernship
Yes, in states where lawmakers think your pediatrician is coming for your gun they've passed laws preventing them from inquiring about that particular health risk.
If I were to be asked that questions I would answer "none of your business" and move on. I do see where this is coming from though - just like the PSA stuff regarding car seats, smoking, weight loss & misc other safety information that gets handed out with office visits/hospital visits.
I have some land around the border by Lardeo, We keep a hunting cabin down there. We basically had to keep it unlocked because of the illegal aliens that kept breaking in looking for food water or stuff to steal. They leave huge piles of trash. Most everyone in this area keeps armed due to the Illegal aliens down there destroying property and thieving.
Florida does have the law; it was discussed on PBS the other evening. I don't really get what is so threatening about being asked about guns in the home or being given info about safety concerns related to guns, but it's just so offensive to their delicate sensibilities that they actually passedalaw making it illegal.
heron, ASN, RN
4,647 Posts
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( numbering added by me)1. If a parent got bent over a question about a child's living conditions, I would wonder what they might be withholding. It would prompt me to pay closer attention to indirect indications of problems in the child, since the parent is obviously unwilling to be honest. Think of it as a variant of the "significant negative".
2. Neither was the second amendment, immigrants, abortion or ranchers' monetary losses due to predation. At least my observation had something to do with the safety of children living with guns.
And "haranguing"? Two sentences expressing my observation of the discussion is "haranguing"? Seriously?
3. Here I totally agree and have proposed pretty much the same thing every time the subject comes up. And pretty much every time, the suggestion was totally ignored by other participants in those discussion (aeb the course taken by this thread following your post). This implies that the children who might be damaged or killed because of owner incompetence are of no consequence to those participants. Actually trying to solve the problem has become irrelevant. Like the man said, "Stuff happens".