One of the reasons it doesn't freak me out is because I am not sure what an "illegal" gun is...do you mean an unregistered firearm? That would be dumb for Drs to ask if its legal (registered) because registration is not required in every state. (Mississippi for one...WWW Link) I've never felt offended at the question. They always ask if we have dogs too. Forgot that one. Are they up to date on shots...stuff like that. Maybe they have to cover it for insurance purposes? I dunno. Maybe it doesn't offend me because I answer the "right" way

I really hate to break this to you. But they are WRONG! If you have to do a NICS check (which your state says you do) that in itself is gun registration. NICS wants to know who you are, where you live, what your buying, the "serial" number of what your are buying, etc. And no matter how you slice it up that is registration. And this has nothing to do with state law, it's a "federal" one. And that goes for pistols or long guns or shotguns. Don't believe me? Try and buy "any" firearm in "any" state in the US without proforming a NICS...it won't happen.

Check this page:
Link

Just a point of clarification--if they are not registering their fireamrm when they are living in an area that requires it, then they are NOT law abiding citizens.

Correction on point of clarification. The NICS done on the purchase of any firearm is registration and follows you "everywhere". Case in point. I have a CCW. I was stopped last week for a minor traffic infraction. Officer saw my firearm (kind of hard to miss a full size 45 auto.) He instantly freaked and got on his radio. I heard the dispatcher tell him it was fine the 45 was registered to me. Funny thing is I bought the gun in California. I have "never" filed any paperwork in PA, which is where I now reside.

Now I will say this there "are" different NICS for different types of firearms (pistols, rifles, etc). And some that have said certain types of firearms are illegal? Check again....all you may need is a special permit. Case in point...you "can" own a machine gun in AZ as long as you have the correct permit.

well I was just figuring you needed CAPS to get what I was saying. It wasn't registering (pun intended). If that works for ya....I'll be certain to use them more......just for you LW.

Since you seem to like to push buttons, I get it. I'm a test case for you. I'll keep that in mind.

It's against the law in Texas for two men to live together? I mean, I realize that they can't get "married" -- but I'm not sure what you are saying? Are you saying that an unmarried man and woman living together (as married) are also breaking the law?

Sorry, I don't mean to be dense, I'm just not clear on how the two points interact.

Thanks for the link. Guess this makes us law breakers....ignorant ones. We have lots of guns bought from lots of diff places, never filled out ANY paper work. Of course the last one we bought was about 15 years ago, don't know it that matters.

Then there are the weapons my husband has been given, family heirloom kinda things. Those were bought years and years ago and as far as I know, no record of them.

"I just wonder why you even bother to come around here LW. It's a mystery to me. Obviously I rub you the wrong way. You should just ignore me. I wish you would."

Go figure.

Whats wrong Whip your outboard broken down? Stuck using the TRRRRRROOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL

motor?

"With good reason, patients may now perceive that their doctors, in asking them about guns in their homes, are acting more as an arm of the government prying into their personal lives than as their advocates in health care."
http://www.haciendapub.com/edcor8.html

You should advise your friend/co worker to ask the Dr. what the point of the question is, as they are asking it, they must have a reason. One that is both medically ethical and relevant.

I think you have plenty or right to feel the way you do. But as you dig deeper into the situation a few other factors come to light.

"More than two in five of all American households with children also have guns, and of those, about one in four keep those guns loaded and/or unlocked"
http://www.commondreams.org/pressreleases/Nov%2098/111398a.htm

At what age do you kids become young adults? At what age are young adults participating in potentially dangerous or damaging behaviours without their parents knowledge or consent, expected to be comfortable and upfront with their doctors and able to discuss medical conditions when that becomes medically necessary.

Doctors and nurses have to treat patients and family practitioners have to develop relationships with teenagers as they become young adults because of the things teenagers get into.

Risky behaviors such as...

Oral sex.
Unprotected sexual intercourse.
Drugs.
Peer pressure to do dangerous things.

Let me take another angle, who do you think treats people injured by gunshot wounds? Obviously the doctors and nurses, so they have a vested interest in supporting safe gun storage and usage. Obviously not every minor child, is not practcing risk averse behavior patterns, often frank and honest discussions about reducing risks is what a Dr. is ethically required to have with patients. Also obviously these types of discussions cannot always occur with parental involvement.

"806 parents, 43% of households with children have guns, and 23% of gun households keep a gun loaded. 28% keep a gun hidden and unlocked. 54% of parents said they would be highly concerned about their child’s safety if they knew there was a gun in the home of their child’s friend. Most understand the dangers of guns: 71% knew that at least one out of three households has a gun, and 59% that one-third of gun-owning parents keep their gun loaded and accessible at least some of the time. But the vast majority also don’t see the risk to their own child: 73% believe that it is "not at all likely" that their child would find and handle a gun without permission."
"http://www.commondreams.org/pressreleases/Nov%2098/111398a.htm"

So maybe the Dr. Office is a member of the AMA or CDC or whatever, and they put out a checklist of questions, and the Dr. reads em off and notes responses, in doing so opening up a dialog about risky behaviors with the patient.

HIPPA Health Information Privacy Protection Act makes it unlawful for any medical information, any responses to any questions, anything, in process of a Doctor's care giving, to be used outside of the medical field. The regulations are so tight caregivers are not allowed to discuss medical details with each other on a medical staff legally except in the performance of their job duties.

Unfortunately we live in a society where gun violence, intentional and accidental kills children. Risky behaviors injure or kill children as well.

Really she's just a bitch with nothing better to do but talk about people in 3rd person, troll while accusing others of the same, and pick on people.

Thankfully Whips' opinion is as close to irrelevant as opinions can be.

A censor too by the way.

I would ask the quack if it gives medications to its (or anyone else's) children.

In 2004 there were 105 kids under 18 died in accidental gun shootings. In that same year 55 died of adverse medical reactions. If 105 deaths is enough to make our medical professionals spy on our private homes, then those same professionals should be held to the same scrutiny for the danger they pose to our kids.

There is no Amercan more pathetic than those who use their freedoms to rob others of theirs!!!

See if they run background checks and register you at flea markets buying new guns. You're right about new guns, but then that isn't registering with the community. Some cities say that all guns must licensed locally, too, I think. Never wanted to live anywhere like that, never will.

I guess we will agree to disagree. MacArthur was no military genius (ala Patton or Jackson), but he was no slouch either. He did not do anything and got sacked for ADVOCATING a plan that Ike did not want to do. Korea is still a hot bed (Nukes anyone) over 50 years later due to Truman and Ike (never a great General anyway, but a good politician ala Colin Powell).

I would rather talk about guns (which I am clueless about) than hear that sound!

It is only yelling when you type in all caps. Typing key words in caps is emphasizing them.

Yeah. We're going to have to disagree on our generals of choice. I see MacArthur as NOT screwing up ONCE in the entire Korean conflict.

However, I hold Ike in very high regard as a military leader. The man was a tactical genius; there's a reason why the biggest mistake in european involvement in WWII was Market Garden (Monty's brainchild, that Ike never liked.)

I mean, Normandy, man. There was more effort in the deception as to where we were going to land on D-Day than has been exhibited in the entire Iraq war.

But then, it's all good to agree to disagree.

Yea, but he was CIC and approved it!

And Normandy? Comeon! That was a political master stroke!

Texas law recognizes common law marriage between a man and a woman, but Texas law forbids same sex couples from being married or even having a legally equivalent status.

I don't agree with it, but it IS the law. Any same sex couple living together and proclaiming themselves as married are lawbreakers.

If you don't understand it, I'm sorry. I honestly don't know how to make it clearer.