Anti gun docs

[spareparts]

My wife is having a baby soon and we've been asking for advice from a pediatrician friend to help us select a local pediatrician. Here's one thing she mentioned while advising us:

I know that you know how to use firearms. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) takes a very strong anti-gun stance. And in urban communities we are encouraged to always ask about it and actively discourage, to the point of shaming you, if you have a gun. (I used to take care of LAPD officers. I nearly fainted when I was discussing gun safety with one of them in my office. He was dressed in shorts, muscle shirt and a fanny pac. He proceeded to show me his gun in my office! Although I understood that as an undercover cop he needed to be armed at all times, I still would have preferred he hadn't brought it into my office.) If this is an impt issue for you, find out about the MD's philosophy before he's your doc.

[gunace89]

This might be because im young and dont have kids but, why is it any of their business?

[Vtec44]

He was dressed in shorts, muscle shirt and a fanny pac.

I think his fanny pack would have scared the crap out of me...

[GettoPhilosopher]

This might be because im young and dont have kids but, why is it any of their business?

The same reason we have ridiculous warning labels on everything (WARNING: DO NOT IRON HAIR WHILE IN BATHTUB)....because there are some idiots who don't care.

So yeah, it's probably their stance because of the kind of idiots who'll leave their "glock fotay!" on the dining room table, loaded with the safety off while they watch tv and drink their beer, leaving their kid wandering around the house.

[Super Spy]

The same reason we have ridiculous warning labels on everything (WARNING: DO NOT IRON HAIR WHILE IN BATHTUB)....because there are some idiots who don't care.

So yeah, it's probably their stance because of the kind of idiots who'll leave their "glock fotay!" on the dining room table, loaded with the safety off while they watch tv and drink their beer, leaving their kid wandering around the house.

That would have to be a very special kind of idiot because Glocks don't have safeties.....

[joeyant]

Do you really expect the American Academy of pediatrics to endorse gun ownership? That would be like the chicken farmers of America asking you to eat more beef and broccoli.

Cut the doc a break. As long as your peds takes good care of your kids, who gives a F how they feel about guns.........

[gunace89]

The same reason we have ridiculous warning labels on everything (WARNING: DO NOT IRON HAIR WHILE IN BATHTUB)....because there are some idiots who don't care.

So yeah, it's probably their stance because of the kind of idiots who'll leave their "glock fotay!" on the dining room table, loaded with the safety off while they watch tv and drink their beer, leaving their kid wandering around the house.

Fair enough, what got me was more the whole part about shaming a person about owning a gun. I can understand for example asking if someone has a gun, and then reminding them "hey, dont be an idiot about it, you got a kid now." BUT, going out of there way to make them feel shameful is overstepping serious boudaries, and by that point isnt about protecting the child but enforcing political beliefs.
The other thing is, if these pediatricians care so much about what parents own that are "dangerous", why dont they ask for parents driving records to see if they can safely drive their children around? Or ask about how much fast food vs. healthy food they eat cuz those habits could be passed down to their children?
Those might be poor examples, but you get what im saying.

[Scratch705]

i thought most medical professions take a strong anti-gun stance?

except the morticians i assume.

[WhatsTCP]

of course they would be anti gun

they cant give you consultation after consultation, numerous tests, prescriptions and diagnosis to make money off you if you shoot yourself dead

[spareparts]

Cut the doc a break. As long as your peds takes good care of your kids, who gives a F how they feel about guns.........

This is why the only thing I will say to the doctor if he brings up the subject is "this is not an issue."

[meaty-btz]

Watch out, Peds these days are often required to ask all kinds of "fishing" questions.

They often fish with the child as well. They then relay this to various people they report to.. CPS for one. As I am a Manditory Reporter, this is a fact. Not hearsay on my part. So it behoves your to find a Trusted pediatrician.

[mstlaurent]

Our pediatrician has a form we have to fill out about the home enviornment, diet, etc. One of the questions is, "Do you own any firearms?" We check "No". What are they going to do? They aren't Federal officers. They aren't law enforcement. They aren't investigating a crime. Lie through your teeth. It makes them more comfortable, and it places you in the "Not To Be Worried About" category with everyone else. QED.

[blakdawg]

I disagree that it's somehow natural or expected (or even rational) for MD's to be anti-gun. We're giving up too quickly if we accept that stance from them.

If your MD is so incapable of critical thinking or analysis that they're just going to parrot some crap fed to them by an anti- organization (even if the anti- organization calls itself "Doctors Against Gunshot Wounds" or something equally ridiculous), can you really have confidence that the other advice they give you is based on demonstrable medical or scientific facts?

There are people who spend a lot of time thinking about and studying crime, violence, self-defense, and related topics. Very few of them are MD's; it's certainly not part of their training, or part of their real-world experience, unless they're in the armed forces or attached to a LEO tactical unit.

If the MD can't have a full discussion of the issues - and particularly if they're not willing and able to bring their expertise to bear on other self-defense related issues - then they're not acting as a trusted advisor, they're acting like a busybody or a meddler, and deserve to be told where to go.

I think it'd be interesting to talk to an MD about self-defense issues - about shot placement, ammo effectiveness, the effect of stress/excitement on performance, immediate first aid for GSW's, etc .. if there were an MD who approached guns and self-defense as a nuanced field of endeavor and study, not just an opportunity to repeat someone else's propaganda - then I would listen to that person if they told me that in their opinion, something I was doing was unsafe or could be improved upon. Having someone who's never fired a gun and who can't imagine responding to aggression with counter-aggression instead of surrender tell me that "all guns are bad" is a giant waste of time and causes significant credibility loss for their other advice.

[Scratch705]

^^ so what your saying you can't trust a doctor to give sound medical advice if they have personal opinions that conflict with yours outside their field of expertise?

ummm ok....?

[GettoPhilosopher]

That would have to be a very special kind of idiot because Glocks don't have safeties.....

XD

Guess I just showed myself to be a Sig guy, didn't I?