It is easier to harm someone if you have access to a firearm ... that is why the old saying "God created man, Col. Colt made them equal" Take the Colorado theater shooter, for example, if his doctor was concerned and knew he did not have a firearm the level of action would be different than if he knew there was a firearm accessable. The probability of injury to yourself or others is greater if you have a firearm in the house, especially where there are children. Not everyone trains the children or secures the weapon sufficiently as is evidenced by the numbers of children involved in accidental shootings.
The American Academy of Pediatrics added it to its guidelines more than a decade ago. It’s often asked in pediatrics, but Pinnacle Health’s Medical Director Joseph Cincotta said it’s also a question for adults. “We don’t take a position as to whether people can or cannot own guns. To us that’s irrelevant. If a person wants to own a gun that’s fine. Our issue revolves around safety,” said Dr. Cincotta.
http://www.wral.com/sweeping-gun-law-headed-for-house-vote/14610483/#mczyf6bxHGqpUFxP.99 The bill would ban doctors or psychiatrists from asking patients in writing whether they own or have access to guns. They would be banned from passing that information along to anyone, even law enforcement, even if a patient were to express a desire to harm himself or others.
Pretty much for the same reasons they do a background check on you when buying a gun, I guess. It would essentially be the reciprocal of the portion of the background check, when applying for permit, that asks you if:
As much as it is if you drink alcohol to excees, smoke, do drugs, have unprotected sex outside of a monagamistic relationship, eat fast foods, drive offensively, or any number of other factors that impact your health or the health of your family.
Remember you said this the next time someone shoots up a school and everyone defends gun ownership over better recognition/treatment of psychological disorders.
That is part of the reason I dropped my NRA membership years ago. The push away from reasonable regulations seemed to set up an all or nothing conclusion and the nothing was the more likely ending, IMO. I would rather have some reasonable laws restricting access to firearms than having them removed completely.
Depending on the Doctor and what their specialty is, it might be a very appropriate question. I wish a Doctor of a loved one of mine would have inquired.
