That organizations purported to represent the medical profession tend to be outspoken advocates of forcible citizen disarmament is nothing new (I've talked about it several times, as have many others), although the trend seems to have accelerated in the wake of the Heller decision. "Nothing new," or not, having found yet another example, I thought it would be worth mentioning, particularly because I find this one particularly troubling.
I refer to this video I stumbled onto on WebMD, from the American College of Preventive Medicine (for whatever reason, I couldn't get the video to play on Firefox, and was forced--ugghh--to use Internet Explorer).
Starting about forty eight seconds into the short (one minute, forty second) video clip, we're told that physicians should, as a matter of course, ask their patients whether or not they own firearms. Tell you what, Doc--why don't you break into my house at 3:00 AM, and find out?
Physicians asking about gun ownership is old news, though, and the least of my problems with what's being suggested here. That comes next--here's my quick and dirty transcript:
Narrator: The ACPM [American College of Preventive Medicine] is also pushing a licensing system.So, before, "uh, people," can exercise their Constitutionally guaranteed, fundamental human right of the individual to keep and bear arms (the one that shall not be infringed), they should have to "demonstrate" to some bureaucrat that they know which end of a gun is best avoided. I don't suppose that the fact that accidental shootings count for well under 3% of shooting deaths is relevant.
Jud Richland, MPH (Executive Director ACPM): We'd like to see, uh, people get licenses before they can purchase guns, so that would require them to demonstrate that they know how to use a weapon safely, maybe by taking just a very short safety course.
Personally, I'm more inclined to look to the Constitution for diagnosis and treatment of any health problems I have than I am to ask these physicians about the extent of my rights.
Stumble it!
4 comments:
Yep, it's happening more and more. It's interesting, because the more liberal the large medical associations become, the AMA is a great example, the fewer doctors that feel they need to join.
Here's another post with a similar theme:
http://outdoornewsguy.com/?p=292
Thanks for the link, and yep--it's definitely a trend.
Considering the horrendous amount of death caused by medical misadventure in this country, this sonofabitch must have balls the size of grapefruit and a brain the size of mustard seed.
What I want to know is this: is the information I share (theoretically) with my doctor about gun ownership subject to the same confidentiality as my other medical issues? Or does the good doctor decide for himself that reporting me to the cops is "in my best medical interest"?
What's next? Will I have to 'fess up to every meal of red meat or high-cholesterol foods? Compel me to report that I sometimes don't wear my seatbelt while driving? And what about knives? Aren't they dangerous? How many do I have, and what length/ blade configuration?
What type of power tools do I operate? Do I wear the right protective equipment in my shop?
This is one reason I don't see a doctor unless there is a SERIOUS problem. And then, I'm very cautious about what information I share.
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