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?
It drives me nuts when someone defends one thing by saying, "but all these other things cause more harm!" That is a completely irrelevant point that proves nothing. It doesn't reduce the statistic you compare to. It may seem to in your mind, but in reality, no, the initial statistic remains unchanged.
I own a handgun and have gotten the "do you keep a gun in the house" question from our Pediatrician and she was actually very well informed.
The assumption that because someone owns a gun there gun safety knowledge and adherence is probably perfect is extremely ill-informed. One of my wife's good friends is the wife of a police officer. While just outside their family car they suddenly heard a gunshot from inside the car, then found their young daughter with a fatal gunshot wound after their son found his unsecured gun in the car. I'd like to say that's the only example of a gun owner who should have known better but it's far from the only example.
Just because someone is a Police Officer, it doesn't mean the person is actually "good" with their firearm or firearm safety. I imagine though, that the Police Officer didn't lose his job over having an unsecured firearm where a child could (and did) use it inappropriately. Us "regular" folks tend to get prosecuted for that...
I've met quite a few LEOs over the years and the majority of them couldn't care LESS about the firearms they carry on duty.
I'm not against having firearms secured in the home. All of mine are. Instead of simply asking whether or not someone has a firearm in the home, it might be more effective to simply state at appropriate times (such as MH visits, pediatric visits, HH visits, etc) that if there are firearms in the home, it is safer for firearms to be secured. This way gun owners don't feel like they're being placed on some kind of "list" or that they're going to get lectured by someone that's likely to be less informed than they are.
I've had a CCW in California. My firearms were either secured on my person or secured away. Never had a problem and I never went places armed that I wouldn't go unarmed anyway.
Nothing the OP said suggested that people shouldn't be allowed to own guns. I'm not sure why anyone is offended by the idea that the safe storage of firearms (especially in homes where young children live) could and/or should be a topic that healthcare workers discuss with their patients.
It doesn't matter if the number of deaths is closer to 500 or 3,000. What we should be concerned about is the percentage of those deaths that could have been prevented by proper gun storage, and if there's anything people who work in healthcare can do to help parents protect their children.
I have never been asked by anyone in the healthcare industry if I own a gun.
I spend some time on a hunting forum in Texas and never have I heard anyone been asked that question
If I was asked a question like that I would be insulted and probably take some kind of action against the said person, Either verbally or physically.........
If I was asked a question like that I would be insulted and probably take some kind of action against the said person, Either verbally or physically.........
I am sure you are kidding, but in case you're not, you should address your insecurities.
We do not ask patients if there are firearms in the home upon admission, but then again I work in a cardiovascular ICU, not a peds clinic. I would not be offended if someone asked this question, and yes, I do own a firearm.
I have never been asked by anyone in the healthcare industry if I own a gun.
I spend some time on a hunting forum in Texas and never have I heard anyone been asked that question
If I was asked a question like that I would be insulted and probably take some kind of action against the said person, Either verbally or physically.........
Of course you would.
Between cops who fear for their lives and carriers who are just too tender-minded to deal with the safety of children in their home, people with guns are starting to seem awfully high maintenance.
I have never been asked by anyone in the healthcare industry if I own a gun.
I spend some time on a hunting forum in Texas and never have I heard anyone been asked that question
If I was asked a question like that I would be insulted and probably take some kind of action against the said person, Either verbally or physically.........
This kind of rhetoric is counterproductive. Just being asked if you own a gun is enough to make you think about verbal aggression and violence? It makes you seem emotionally fragile, reinforcing the stereotype of gun owners as insecure. Now, I assume this wasn't the position you intended to take, but I thought I should mention it because the proposition brillohead made was that gun owners are somehow safer, or at least more aware of gun safety. This sort of comment makes you appear less safe than other people... which reinforces the idea that we should ask about guns in the home.
Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.
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How do you feel the second amendment relates to encouraging the safe storage and handling of firearms in the home?
2nd admendment affords me the right to possess, bear guns......
how ever this "right" carries , non pun in term a very grave responsibility to keep them secure, safe, and only assessable to me the owner.....which I take very serious, to the tune of a multi-thousand $, and very security sensitive gun safe.....larger than a side by side refrigerator..... I have the right to possess, and protect my self, but that "right". Does require a very displine responsibility ....to not allow to be in the hands of others regardless of age, mental hygiene, etc....could cause harm.......in my "area where I live," a babysitter, fell asleep....with a loaded pistol on coffee table.....tragic event followed.......the weapon should not have been assessable in that environment.....I mean secured in a safe similar to mine, not Just put on a closet shelf
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
Sorry, but I don't consider gangbanger homicides to be "kids dying due to guns in the home". Ditto for teen suicides -- truly suicidal teens will generally try another method if they don't have a gun available.
But good job trying to play the statistics manipulation game.
The gangbanger comment is completely ignorant to the reality of the life of an adolescent who lives in a neighborhood that is controlled by gangs.
Your second comment about suicidal teens is ignorant to the factual evidence that access to guns increases risk of suicide. Most suicides are done on impulse.
I am not anti gun. But I am astonished at how ignorant and irresponsible some people can be about guns. As though your right to own a gun erases the reality that guns can and do kill innocent people every day or that right absolves you of taking responsibility for that fact.
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ixchel
4,547 Posts
It drives me nuts when someone defends one thing by saying, "but all these other things cause more harm!" That is a completely irrelevant point that proves nothing. It doesn't reduce the statistic you compare to. It may seem to in your mind, but in reality, no, the initial statistic remains unchanged.