Virginia bill would bar doctors from asking about guns

[Shelor]

A pediatrician who asks a child's parent about firearms in their home could lose his or her license or be disciplined under legislation being considered by a Senate committee today.

The bill would prohibit health care professionals from asking a patient about gun possession, ownership or storage unless the patient is being treated for an injury related to guns or asks for safety counseling about them.

Sponsored by Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Martinsville, the bill sailed through the House by a vote of 88 to 11 last week. A message seeking comment was left for the delegate; he did not return the call.

The legislation is opposed by The Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics because it blocks a common practice by medical professionals to inquire about gun ownership and safety when they go over a safety checklist with parents during a child's regular checkups from birth to puberty.


http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=100053&ran=103354&tref=po

[acmejack]

1. Does this strike anyone else as stupid?

It seems to me that there are far more pressing concerns for our legislators to be busying themselves with. Could be wrong, of course, but casual observation suggests otherwise...

[PurpleChez]

3. I read just recently that Ashcroft did not investigate gun purchases by

the 9/11 highjackers. It really is true that the 2nd Amendment is the only part of the constitution these assholes give a damn about.

[Zynx]

4. I'd be much more nervous if these bastards started taking away guns.

[PurpleChez]

6. Absolutely. I'm not a hunter. I've never hunted. And, actually, some

hunters sort of weird me out. (The guys who wear camo EVERYWHERE except church....) But I eat meat, and I know where it comes from, so I can't get moralistic about shooting animals. You could say that I support moderate gun control, not total. It's not unthinkable that Cheney/Bush could do a 180 on gun control (with the NRA's silent approval, of course) and start registering and rounding up firearms in advance of some new assault on civil liberties. You've got me thinking about something that never occurred to me before: we haven't heard a lot from the Montana Freemen and similar groups lately. (Although I'm sure Morris Dees is keeping an eye on them.) While I've always associated those groups with the far, far right, some of those that are obsessed with an out-of-control central government must be having some discontent with our Unitary Executive and its increasingly unchecked powers. Bush is on record as not caring about history, but some of his accomplices who can read must realize that a violent outburst is more likely to come from Timothy McVeighs of the nation rather than the Cindy Sheehans.

[FloridaPat]

2. Yes, more stupid gov't.

[Virginia Dare]

5. Par for the course

in a state where people can and do walk into a bar and slap their weapon of choice ontop for all to see before ordering their beverage(s) of choice.

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. Absolutely standard question...

...in dozens of situations, especially if there are problems at school, a depressed child, etc. etc.

And since no one goes straight to a specialist (e.g. pyschiatrist) without going through a primary care physician (for a child, a pediatrician), who else is supposed to ask?

It would be negligent not to ask.