Florida doctors warning patients about guns

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Plan2Live

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I ran across this news story this morning. See link below. A U.S. Judge has blocked a "gag order" preventing Florida doctors from advising patients about the hazards of gun ownership.

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I am leaning toward agreeing with the judge from a free speech perspective while similutaneously dislking the doctor's one sided perspective.

I've talked to my primary physician about guns. He has sons similar in age to mine and they enjoy shooting as much as we do. My oldest son sports a 30.06 his prefers the .308. No preaching coming from him. If he came at me from a "that's not a good idea perspective" I would politely advise him we would have to agree to disagree on that topic. I don't need the governement protecting me from other's perspectives.

What say The High Road?

http://news.yahoo.com/judge-blocks-florida-law-gagging-doctors-gun-talk-230330650.html
 
unless its medically relevant (IE. Lead levels in blood).......the last person that im going to have a lecture from on gun safety is my doctor.

that being said, i do agree with the judges ruling on this one

as the saying goes...."I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
 
The Judge made the right call here. Nothing good was ever coming of this law.

I don't have a lot of expectations of people, but I do expect that a self-sufficient adult would have the courage to either tell his doctor that he isn't interested in hearing the doc's opinions on guns--or any other subject (unless it's relevant to his medical condition)--or to just go get another doctor.

Let's not waste effort on passing laws that restrict speech. There are so many other issues that are more important to defending the right to keep and bear arms than this.
 
The only time I ever ran into a Dr addressing the issue was when I took my grandson for a sick call visit. The Dr obviously knew nothing about guns or gun safety. I told him I'd be happy to come back at his convenience to explain it to him -- I even showed him my credentials. He didn't accept my offer.

My grandson is now a champion rifle shot and shoots all guns often. :cool:
 
Personally, I agree with this court ruling that upholds our right to free speech. My children's pediatrician questioned me about guns in our household during a safety discussion that also included using electrical outlet covers and holding my kids hands when they crossed the street. As a proud gun owner I assured the Md that I did own a gun and all safety measures were already in place. One can never be too safe around guns or have too much information on the subject. I welcome the open discussion as long as their views on the matter are not forced upon me. If the Md had tried to tell me to get rid of my guns, I would have asked for a copy of my children's chart and exexuted my right to find another practitioner at that time. Barring a few laws regarding the matter, if the Dr. did not agree with my standpoint, he could also refuse to treat me as a patient and force me to take my business somewhere else. Either way, problem solved without needing the court to make a decision.
 
I saw this a while back. The Brady Campaign was having a major flip out along the lines of "ZOMG! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!"
 
Correct me if i'm wrong, but I believe this law was created because a doctor told a patient to find a new doctor after questioning the patient on guns in the house. I agree that speech should not be limited on this basis, but the real issue should have been prohibiting discrimination based on gun ownership, if anything.
 
Correct me if i'm wrong, but I believe this law was created because a doctor told a patient to find a new doctor after questioning the patient on guns in the house. I agree that speech should not be limited on this basis, but the real issue should have been prohibiting discrimination based on gun ownership, if anything.
Click to expand...

The problem is that I do not believe anyone has a 'right' to force a doctor in private practice to see someone if that doctor doesn't want to. If the doc says he will refuse service to any gun owner, that is his prerogative, just as it is mine to take my business and money elsewhere.

I think we throw around the term 'discrimination' too freely. Outlawing discrimination on the basis of something truly silly and irrelevant (and yet socially damaging) such as ethnicity is one thing. Outlawing discrimination on the basis of the choices people making is very problematic.

And yes, that includes the choice to obtain and bear firearms for the purpose of personal self defense! It has to if we're a free society (or at least trying to be one....)

A much better response to this nonsense is to let everyone know of the bad treatment received from that doctor, and seek out doctors who aren't trying to push a political agenda on their patients. And the doctor...if he can afford to lose gun-owning patients, well, that's his business, not mine.

(And yes, I know, doctors may not be permitted to decline service to a patient in a medical emergency. Still, for those non-emergency situations, I'd prefer to keep the government out of the examining room as much as possible.)
 
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