Republican Lawmakers slam
doctors on questions about gun ownership
The Hill – Elise Viebeck –
2/16/2013
“If there's a gun in the
house, a family member is three times more likely to die from a gunshot wound
[than] an intruder," he added. "We advise parents about car safety
seats, about bicycle helmets, and about guns. It's just part of our prevention
frame of mind."
But on Capitol Hill this
week, GOP lawmakers reacted to the idea as a major violation of gun-owners'
privacy.
"Are they going to
start asking if [patients] are Republicans or Democrats?" said Rep. Trent
Franks (R-Ariz.), another member of the Judiciary Committee. "Asking
questions that are none of the pediatricians' business is out of bounds."
King, criticizing Obama's
healthcare law, suggested that doctors' practice of asking about guns could
ultimately help the government surveil citizens.
"What they're doing is
compiling a record that, one day, the Obama administration or a succeeding
administration could tap into," King said. "Who is getting those
records? They will be in ObamaCare's database file. That's part of that."
He added that it would be
easy for Congress to pass a law enabling federal officials to use those records
to "identify where guns are."
They argued, like the
National Rifle Association (NRA), that gun safety is not doctors'
responsibility.
"Doctors have no
business inquiring of patients whether they are choosing to exercise their
constitutional rights," NRA spokeswoman Jacqueline Otto said in a
statement Friday. "When a child is brought to a doctor, it is to seek
their expertise in pediatrics, not firearms ownership."
"If I'm a pediatrician,
I want to make sure the kids I take care of are safe," said Rep. Scott
DesJarlais (R-Tenn.), a physician. "So having a discussion about all types
of things ... I don't have a problem with it."
READER COMMENT: It's going to be quite a questionnaire.
Does mommy leave a pot
handle on the stove facing frontwards where it can be grabbed by a child? (Many
more children are burned by hot liquids that way than are shot).
Does mommy leave kitchen
knives on the counter where you can reach them? (Many more children are cut
(some seriously) by kitchen knives than are shot)
Does mommy or daddy smoke or
smoke dope? (Many more children are seriously burned or killed by playing with
matches or lighters than are shot)
Does mommy or daddy use
their cell phone when they are driving you? (Many more children are seriously
injured or killed due to accidents due to driver inattention than by guns).
Does mommy or daddy drink
beer or alcohol?
Do they drive you after
they've been drinking?
Has anyone in your family
ever let you drink beer?
Does mommy or daddy ever
spank you? Do they use their hand or something else? Does daddy or mommy's
boyfriend ever get really mad and hit mommy?
Has mommy's boyfriend ever
hit you?
Has mommy or daddy ever
touched you here or there when they shouldn't have?
Do mommy and daddy yell at
you all the time and hurt your feelings?
Does mommy let you eat
candy, drink soda or let you put salt on your food?
Do you go to McDonalds more
than once a month?
Has mommy made you eat red
meat more than twice this week?
How often does mommy NOT
prepare you a nice bland vegan supper.
Has mommy ever NOT made you
a nice hot important breakfast to start your day in a healthy way?
Has mommy ever let you play
outside without putting a sun blocker on you?
Has mommy ever let you ride
your bike without wearing a helmet?
Has mommy and daddy ever
told you that global warming doesn't exist, or not told you about how it will
affect your health unless we stop it?
And on and on and on...
Northwoods Patriots - Standing up for Faith, Family, Country - northwoodspatriotscomm@gmail.com
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