"Doc vs. Glock" legislation introduced in TN

[Guest RichieRich]

HB 2672 was introduced yesterday by Jeremy Faison to keep anti-gun doctors from trying to use their white coal pulpit to lecture people on keeping guns in their homes. Here's a key provision:

No health care provider licensed under title 63, or health care facility licensed under this title shall make a written or verbal inquiry to a patient or a patient’s family member as to whether the patient or the family member owns, possesses or stores a firearm or ammunition unless the practitioner in good faith believes that the inquiry is relevant to the patient’s medical care or safety, or to the safety of others.

This looks similar to legislation passed in Florida last year (but unfortunately held up in Federal Court): NRA-ILA :: REPORT: Florida Governor Rick Scott Signs Two Pro-Gun Bills into Law. To my knowledge, no other states have such legislation.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in our state.

[Guest nicemac]

They can ask all they want. "None of your business" is an easy answer.

Even if it passed (that pesky free speech thing should prevent that from every holding up), all they would have to say is that they believe the question is relevant to the patient's safety or the safety of others… Some people sincerely believe that. Who decides that the doctor doesn't really believe that?

Pointless.

[Dolomite_supafly]

My doctor asks me all the time if I am carrying a firearm. He just wants to make sure I don't step on the scale with it on. I will take it off and set it on the bed while he gets my weight.

We also get together and shoot regularly.

Dolomite

[LagerHead]

I'm with Nicemac on this one. In fact I'm against the law. Like Mac pointed out it's a free speech issue. And if you're not man enough to tell the nosey doc to mind his own business then I guess you can live with the consequences.

[Jonnin]

what a useless statement: It basically says "doctors cannot ask about guns unless they feel like it". Any doctor can make a case for asking about it, from lead exposure to child safety. It does not say it has to be a good case, it says the doctor in question has to personally think the question is justified, and in the mind of a liberal, it already is justified......

[oldogy]

Another waste of the legislative time. Another attempt to regulate the sheeple.

oldogy

[Guest RichieRich]

I think that "none of your business" is the best short term solution. As someone involved in the medical profession, seeing the push of ObamaCare to have increased federal oversight and access to electronic medical records, I worry that even "leave me alone" answers will get unfavorably entered into these data bases. As Obama tries to push private insurers out of business, more people going to Federal policies means even more government access to these records.

Call me paranoid, but given Fast and Furious, I worry that this could be a back door approach to gun registration. If your medical record shows up with "yes" or "mind your business," Holder and his crew would probably tag you as a gun owner. And that, is REALLY none of their business.

[GKar]

Hey, I've lied to my doctor before...

[Dolomite_supafly]

Hey, I've lied to my doctor before...

If a doctor asks say you are absolutley against guns, after all guns kill people. If he is anti gun you will be on his good side and he will let you know. If he is pro gun he will probably try to convince you they are safe at which point you can let him know you are truly pro gun.

Either way it is a win win.

Telling them you are anti gun has many bonuses while saying you are pro gun has many negatives., both now and down the road.

Dolomite

[DaveTN]

My Doctor can ask anything he likes, and I’m offended that a legislator would be arrogant enough to think they could interfere/legislate with that any more than they can interfere with what my Attorney asks me.

Does Jeremy Faison have nothing better to do? Hey Jeremy, we live in a state where it is a crime to carry a gun….. work on that.

[GKar]

On further review...if asked "Do you own a gun?", I can honestly answer no...I own several...or is that many....ah, semantics!

[Guest RichieRich]

I think that's what Bill Clinton's attorneys called "truthful but misleading." If they're going to ask, they do need to make sure that they ask correctly!