John M. Talmadge, M.D., a gun-owner and hunter from rural Texas, suggests discussion and local action could be the most effective way for physicians to reduce gun deaths.
Despite his proficiency with and ownership of firearms, Talmadge writes in Modern Medicine that he believes the 32,000 annual gun deaths in the United States to be “a plague on our culture.” The political environment has made it difficult for physicians to translate their concern for gun violence as a public health crisis into effective advocacy, however. “While it’s unrealistic to expect thousands of Americans to disarm, any reduction in handgun deaths would be progress,” Talmadge says.
As with other complex health and human issues, Talmadge points out that there’s little margin in trying to force people to do things or stop people from doing things if they’re determined to take the opposite route. In this case, the political baggage that goes along with firearm restrictions make things even more complicated. Any progress on the issue is likely to be slow, according to Talmadge, and he thinks it unlikely that lasting solutions will be imposed by the government. Instead, they will arise from the local level, as people share their experiences and interact with one another.
Talmadge cites his experiences on the receiving end of patient violence as a reason for grave concern about allowing firearms in a physician’s practice, but he doesn’t think such prohibitions would likely deter people determined to carry a weapon. As a more productive alternative, he suggests using a sign to invite dialog and appeal to mutual respect. “Please respect the rights and safety of others by not bringing firearms or other weapons into the building when you come for your visit,” he writes. “I believe that we can preserve our Second Amendment rights and still have a safer, saner nation where so many people are not being killed by guns.”
Following the deadly Orlando nightclub shooting earlier this year, the American Medical Association adopted a policy labeling gun violence a “public health crisis” in the United States.