Florida Bill Could Muzzle Doctors On Gun Safety
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign a bill that will make the state the first in the nation to prohibit doctors from asking patients if they own guns. The bill is aimed particularly at pediatricians, who routinely ask new parents if they have guns at home and if they're stored safely.
So much for free speech.
There are relatively few cases in which one can be fined for just asking a question. I suppose supporters of this law would liken it to laws against hiring discrimination which lead employers to avoid asking questions which could lead to such charges. That comparison might make some sense if the concern was pediatricians refusing to serve patients whose families had guns.
Is it really so "invasive" for a pediatrician to ask a safety oriented question like this? There is no obligation to answer. Responding with a simple "thanks for your concern, but don't worry about it" should be well within the capabilities of any gun owner. Further remedies are available, like seeking someone else's services instead. I don't think we should be legislating fines on pediatricians for asking questions potentially relevant to child safety.