House clears bill limiting gun queries (VA)

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | February 14, 2006 | Tammie Smith

[DBrow]

Well, they could keep a database and call the child protective agencies in.

I was thinking more along the lines of entering the data in a database, that others could later access- the Clinton "medical records privacy laws" actually opened up all our records to lots and lots of people- anyone "authorized" under the privacy laws.

[Hardastarboard]

I had gun nuts once. It was painful.

[therut]

I'm a physician and I agree with this bill. Doctors need to treat a patients illness not worry about their patients constitutonally protected firearms. They are pushing this crap in Medical Schools. I have a new Physician in my clinic and I heard him dictating a well child exam and he rattled off about asking about firearms in the home. I wanted to scream. And he is a big gun owner himself.. Now don't get me started on how well child exams are mostly useless waste of money..

[neverdem]

And he is a big gun owner himself..

LOL!

Now don't get me started on how well child exams are mostly useless waste of money..

Don't tell that to the AAP.

[Mulder]

This seems like a good thing, but I get uneasy when governments step in to interfere with private business.

The government was instituted primarily to defend individual Rights, as is laid out in the Declaration of Independence. As such, they have an obligation to act, on behalf of the people, when ANY entity, organization, or person threatens those Rights.

In this particular case, you have a powerful organization whos goal is to disarm the American people engaged in harassing activity at the least, and at the most aiding in compilation of a national database of gunowners. The state of Virginia is right to act to stop this.

[Mulder]

Exactly. It's the parent's job to punch the pediatrician squarely in the face, not the government's.

Personally, I've no problem with that approach, but practically that would result in a felony assault charge, and then you would have to surrender your guns or face federal felony charges.

It would be nice to see Virginia modify their assualt/battery laws to incorporate a "he needed punching" clause, but that probably isn't going to happen. So this legislation is the next best thing.

[Mulder]

As a senior, senior citizen I object to being queried at medical facilities with loaded questions in order to determine my mental condition. It's insulting. How about a law against that?

I had a similar situation a few years ago. I injured my ankle falling down some stairs, and went to get Xrays. The nurse asked several loaded questions with her objective being for me to "confess" as to being in a fight and injuring my ankle that way.

It was obvious to me that she had taken some sort of training class in low-level interrogation techniques. The whole situation infuriated me.

[Fido969]

American Academy of Pediatrics "recommends that pediatricians incorporate questions about guns into their patient history taking and urge parents who possess guns to remove them, especially handguns, from the home."

Idiots.

[DBrow]

Yes, you are right.

[Nonesuch]

PistolPaknMama wrote:

...tell the doc it was none of his business and had nothing to do with the green stuff in my kid's nose. Infuriating.

True. But it has everything to do with the dark gray stuff in my nose. As soon as the weather warms up I'm switching back to an outdoor range.

[Still Thinking]

When the bill was before the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee, its members suggested asking about guns is part of standard risk assessments and is no different from asking about wearing a bike helmet or using a seat belt.

They are correct. Asking about that stuff should be prohibited under this bill as well. When I or my child go to the doctor, it's because we have a health issue we think he is more prepared to deal with than we are alone, not because we think he has superior wisdom and we want to sacrifice our privacy and be indoctrinated in his belief system.