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?
Incompetent handling of guns in the home exposes children to significant risk of accidental injury or death. A large part of the responsibility of a pediatric practitioner is to address accident prevention and risk reduction. (The same can be said of just about any area of healthcare, especially psych. But the concern is especially keen in peds.)
These kinds of questions are one possible approach to the issue, but not the only one available in a healthcare setting. But, instead of trying to find alternative ways to reduce the threat to children's safety, we pass a law against asking the question.
Sweeping a threat under the rug like that seems pretty boneheaded to me.
Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
No "need"to chide. I'm on my app and that option is not available.
There was no "need" for me to post, you are correct. It stands.
Wasn't intending to chide you -- sorry that you took it that way. Lots of people aren't aware of the "unlike" link, as it's not a button like the other options and it's not in the same area as the other options.
Wasn't intending to chide you -- sorry that you took it that way. Lots of people aren't aware of the "unlike" link, as it's not a button like the other options and it's not in the same area as the other options.
heron, ASN, RN
4,647 Posts
See what I mean? The dead and damaged children just don't exist in these discussions. It's all about threats and dueling dogmas.
Pretty narcissistic, in my view.