Opinion
In law-abiding hands, a gun is no more sinister than a fire extinguisher
LETTER — Posted May 19, 2008
Regarding "Crimeproof your practice: How to improve office safety" (Article, April 21): The spokesperson for Physicians for Social Responsibility opined that a gun in the office is inconceivable.
I, too, carry a gun as a means of self-defense. Just like the fire extinguisher in my office, I have happily not yet had to use it.
In the case discussed, what better outcome could have been scripted?
Would the spokesperson have preferred the physician who defended himself to have been killed or injured by his assailant? Guns, when used by the law-abiding citizen, prevent crime, most times (as in this case) without a shot being fired.
Robert C. Allen Jr., MD, Anchorage, Alaska
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/05/19/edlt0519.htm.