MD Poll: Majority of Doctors Own Guns, Want Tighter Controls

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Physicians tend to own guns and to have strong opinions on gun control issues.

Last week, MD Magazine asked its readers for their views on curbing gun violence. Of about 1,700 physicians who received the poll, 928 answered the questions and hundreds of these respondents left comments. Among the survey results, more than half of the respondents said they own guns, and about two-thirds said they use the weapons for protection. The physicians polled felt strongly that more gun controls are needed, with over 90% saying that should be in the form of better background checks.

But when asked if physicians should be directly involved in curbing gun violence, more respondents said it was not their job than said it was a health issue in which doctors should play a role. As for organized medicine getting involved, a majority agreed the American Medical Association should not take a stand on gun control.

Do Doctors Play a Role?

Physicians were split on this question of whether they have a role to play in curbing gun violence. Of 901 who responded, 43.6% said no and 40.3% said yes. More than 16% of those who responded wrote comments, and feelings often ran high.

Of those who said yes:

“Absolutely. We’ve had several children lost to handgun accidents and our practice has had a few suicides by handgun,” said one physician, “Discussions about gun safety go on in my clinic.”

Another expressed doubts that advice or questions would help, but that “possibly physician groups can take a stand together.”

Many said physicians’ role is limited to seeing that patients with mental health problems get care. “Only if they can identify mental instability that may be harmful to the patient or others.” Another said, “Physicians are often the first lie of defense concerning mental health issues, identifying the prospective shooters.” Several called for a stronger mental health care system, better pay for psychiatrists, more leeway in reporting mentally patients to authorities.

Recommending that patients get training in gun safety was mentioned by several who left comments, with some favoring handing out National Rifle Association literature to patients.

Others took a stronger position saying physicians need to get involved.

“We see the aftermath of injuries from guns. We also have a broader responsibility given our Hippocrates oath. The Second Amendment was authored at a very different time when gun slinging in the streets was necessary for personal safety. There is NO need for semi-automatic, military style weapons in the house and there is even less need for laxity on regulations as to who may own them legally. We have to be a part of the conversation to a solution which leads to fewer human wounds and deaths.”

“Physicians have a role in curbing violence, period,” one respondent said, adding that guns in themselves are not the problem.

Of those who said physicians have no role to play in curbing gun violence, some left brief answers. “Absolutely not,” said one, with no further comment.

“There are too many burdens already placed on physicians,” said another.

“Why is this even an issue?” asked one respondent. "The fanaticism about gun control has distorted logical thinking. People have a right to own guns.”

“Many doctors don’t know one end of a firearm from the other and certainly should not be involved in educating their patients.”

The focus should be on the entertainment industry said another, where many blockbuster films feature extremely violent content.

Physicians who said they own guns were adamant that they be allowed to carry them.

“We have the same duty and right to protect ourselves as other citizens,” said one, “Our hospitals/office buildings are perfect targets,” adding that strict gun laws have not stopped shootings in cities like Chicago and Baltimore. “Virtually all mass shootings occur in gun-free zones,” the physician said.

Still others who left comments said their response to gun violence was to “advocate for increased safe gun ownership and concealed carry. That was any potential victims will be armed and able to fight back and quickly terminate any attack,” one wrote.

The Role of the AMA

When asked specifically about the AMA, 57.65% said the group shouldn't take a stand on gun control, while 42.35% said yes.

Their comments ranged from a succinct “Hell No!” to more measured responses. “The AMA should not promote further legislation but promote education on safety,” said one respondent. Several took the question as an opportunity to criticize the AMA as not representing most physicians, having no business in politics, and being too “liberal” in general.

“Leave medicine to the physicians and politics to the politicians,” said one.

Others said the AMA should be focused more on improving mental health care.

Of those who answered yes, one said “This is a public health issue [and] we should absolutely be talking about this publicly.”

The AMA should make “A strong statement regarding the fact that gun ownership is a hazard and increases the risk of death in the household,” said another respondent.

Asking Patients About Guns

Responses were also mixed when physicians were asked whether or not they ask patients about gun ownership. The issue has become a point of contention as some states have passed laws limiting physicians’ ability to ask about guns and gun safety. The AMA’s House of Delegates voted to oppose such laws last year.

Overall, 42.25% of the 890 respondents said they have asked a patient if they own a gun. While some of the 106 commenters said it was none of their business, many others said they routinely ask in cases when there is a suicide risk or other psychiatric concerns, in some cases, commenters indicated that the question was part of a standard intake form.

Among those who said “no,” the reasons varied.

One said they would only ask if it was important in an individual case: “Why would I go randomly and unnecessarily violate a patient's privacy?”

Others expressed concern about keeping records of gun ownership. “That information, in an EMR, could be mined for inappropriate purposes. And everyone around here has multiple guns.”

One commenter said they agree with laws limiting the asking of gun-related questions by physicians. “I believe it should be a ‘loss of license’ offense to enter any such information into an EMR system.”

Another respondent said no, because “Patient bears responsibility for safe use of firearms.”

Meanwhile, many who answered “yes” cited specific safety concerns, with one saying they don’t ask about gun ownership per se, but rather about where and how a patient stores his or her guns.

“I wanted to ensure that my pediatric patients were not in a home where the (gun) was not locked and stored out of reach,” one respondent said. “This also forced the parents to consider their child's safety with the (gun) in the home.”

Others said the question comes up frequently, “I do it in the list of safety questions including, do you wear a seat belt?”

“I ask women who jog/run alone on the roads what they do for protection including carrying a gun or pepper spray or running with a dog,” said another.

Overall, a majority of respondents, 55.34%, said they own a gun. When asked why, nearly two-thirds (65.15%) said personal protection was their primary reason for owning a gun. Just 34.85% said they use their gun for sport.

The question elicited 177 comments, a majority of which indicated the gun owner uses her or his firearm for both sports and personal protection. Some objected to being asked how they use their firearm. A handful of commenters said they own a gun as a collector’s item or family heirloom. Others said they own a gun but have rarely or never used it. One commenter specifically referred to the spate of mass shootings, saying they carry a gun, “to be able to intervene in the case of a mass shooting.”

Most Favor More Gun Control

While a majority of respondents said they own a gun, a majority also said they support stronger gun control measures, with about 53.33% in favor.

Many who said “no” noted that the federal government and states already have a variety of gun restrictions on the books.

“Enforce that laws we have,” one said. “The problem is cultural, making it more difficult for the law abiding citizens to own guns is not going to have much effect on the criminal element.”

“I support stronger application of the law to enforce current laws,” said another respondent. “I have no problem with more fair background checks.”

Among those who said they support more gun control, most said it should be limited in nature.

“Yes if reasonable & not with the false hope it will deter criminal behavior,” said one commenter.

“Everyone supports gun control measures,” wrote another. “The question needs to be about what level of measures to take.”

A few commenters specifically mentioned concerns about the National Rifle Association: “This is necessary to improve the health of our patients and our society. The NRA and our congress need to stay out of the doctor's office.”

Expanded Background Checks Have Wide Support

Of those who took the poll, about a third did not answer this question—likely meaning they do not support gun control.

Of the 608 who answered it, 93.75% said they favored increased background checks; 68.91% wanted a ban on assault weapons; 61.51% favored limited magazine sizes, and 41.5% favored a ban on concealed weapons.

There were 221 comments—many from those opposed to more gun controls.

One physician said there could be an unintended consequence to tighter laws on gun ownership.

“I have already had some patients ask that if they had depression they would be scared to talk about it with me because they are worried about keeping their guns,” the physician wrote. “There will be less patients seeking [care from] mental health professionals to avoid losing guns.”

Those who favored more controls included one who said the Second Amendment needs to be rewritten because “in its present form [it] becomes an enabler of murder.” There were calls for banning “open carry” laws, and for enacting requirements that gun owners carry liability insurance.

One respondent said guns should be illegal, period.

“The answer lies in the answer to a simple question. How many innocent Americans would you tolerate being executed daily just so some gun addict can 'get off on packing heat?' If you don't mind the current death rates, then do nothing; if you want to minimize the executions, then a total gun ban is necessary.”

Many said existing laws are adequate but need to be better enforced.

Mental health and societal issues are the real issue, not access to weapons, said another. One respondent pointed out that most gun deaths are suicides “and suicide isn’t going to be affected by any of the above.”

“I'm personally done with the ridiculous feel-good laws politicians make that have no effect on anything. Gun control is just another one. This issue is too complex for easy solutions. Most of it occurs due to socioeconomic issues. How many gang members have real jobs and are raising children in a (what used to be normal) mother & father marital relationship. Our society has become more nihilistic over time. Gun violence is just part of this disregard for human life.”

To see the full results of the survey, including comments and answers to open-ended questions, click here.

Gun Ownership By Physicians