Went in to schedule a colonoscopy the other day:rolleyes:. Was wearing my Brownell’s “gimmie” AR-15 builder hat at the time. We spent five minutes discussing the procedure and the next ten talking ARs. I referred him to this site and the tier chart.
Just goes to show that you can conduct PR work anytime, anywhere. 
Glad it worked out for you. But IMHO, you’re either very brave or very foolish. Huge gamble and flirting with risk.
Guns, politics, religion. Call me crazy and paranoid, but in this insanely hyper politically correct world we find ourselves in, unless I know exactly the stance of the person on the subject who is going to be poking and prodding my rectum, working on me while I’m anesthetized and can’t fight back, ain’t no way, no how I’m even broaching the subject. I’m certainly not wearing an AR15 hat to my doctor, on a job interview, in court before a judge just as few examples etc etc. Would be foolish and a lack of good judgment IMHO. Even though I’m ardent 2nd amendment proponent and have a small arsenal of weapons myself, I might start a conversation about your hat but in the end, unless it was a gun company you were interviewing to work at, I wouldn’t hire you if you wore it to an interview…lack of good judgment. I couldn’t trust you to make good decisions about my company.
I’m being light-hearted about this and serious at the same time. Nothing evokes such strong responses or is more divisive than these subjects. Some are down right hateful if you have a differing view. He might just see something nasty while in there and decide not to tell you. Even Doctors can be evil and are notoriously anti-gun. http://www.google.com/search?q=doctors+are+anti+gun&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8&rlz=1I7GGLL_en You just lucked out. I distrust most human beings period until proven otherwise! 52 years of living amongst humans has taught me the untrustworthy-dishonest-evil-hateful-fallen creatures they are, or can be.
I’m assuming that you did not know his stance prior. Perhaps my assumption is wrong. And maybe he isn’t the one performing the actual colonoscopy. But I would recommend not wearing it to the hospital morning of your procedure.
At the last two shooting courses I went to (two-day Louis Awerbuck and 3-day Jeff Gonzales), there were 3 doctors (including me) out of about 15 shooters. Not sure why anyone should be concerned about discussing firearms with their doctor. As to spilling the beans about being a gun enthusiast to someone about to do your colonoscopy…that’s just a very silly thing to worry about. He’s going to do that procedure the same regardless of your lifestyle, hobbies, and/or political persuasion.
Yeah, I don’t think any doctor you would allow to work on you in the first place would compromise their integrity for your personal gun beliefs.
Now if it’s your chef … I would talk about that -after dinner- and see what the reactions are. 
I never said some Doctors weren’t anti gun but the overwhelming majority are anti gun. Vehemently so. The anti gun bias of the AAP & AMA is well known. Clearly there are exceptions to every rule though
Some of us operate with a little more with discretion and less naively. There was just a huge issue here in Florida where Pediatricians felt it was their obligation to ask if there were guns in the home. A law was passed this past June forcing them to stop and they vehemently fought it. Instead of the responses “I don’t think(you don’t think??) there’s a problem with telling your doctor”, how about just removing it from the equation until you know and not just think? Perhaps the prudent and wise thing to do is just not advertise it. There’s no reason to and usually no benefit to do so.
The American Academy of Physicans opposes private ownership of assault weapons http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/policy/policies/f/firearmlaws.html
So continue to feel free to think it’s wise move to wear that ar15 hat to see the good doc! I’ll wisely continue to operate with better discretion.
And just wait til Obamacare gets fully implemented. Obamacare could be used to prevent gun ownership. Sen. Max Bauchus " Own a gun lose your health coverage" it’s a health risk don’t you know. Or pay much higher rates. It’s in the bill! http://gunowners.org/a100909.htm
About 15% of practicing physicians are members of the AMA, so the AMA’s stance is hardly representative of physicians. Likewise, the American Academy of Pediatrics represents that one, rather small, specialty. As to the rest, (primarily the AAFP which fought it the hardest) their opposition to the gun discussion law in Florida was about laws that interfere with communication in the doctor-patient relationship, not about gun ownership. I would have opposed that law too.
I think you’re operating out of paranoia more than anything else. I can assure you that your statement about the “overwhelming majority” is simply incorrect.
And…your doctor knowing you’re a gun owner hurts you how? How does your “discretion” protect you from anything? Your doctor works for you. You hire him in the same way you hire a plumber. Why would you give a crap what he thinks about your firearms hobby?
I’ve worn all sorts of T-Shirts from firearms or firearm accessory manufacturers to my kid’s pediatrician visits. And I’ve been to almost every one. Not once has it ever caused a problem, or even been discussed.
Being a geek, (and having a firearms related business which gets me access to lots of freebie shirts), I (used to) wear T-Shirts most of the time, and they are all firearms related or tech/computer related. Most of the firearms. (Lately I’ve been attempting to wear polo shirts more often, though at east one of them says “Blue Force Gear” on it and another two say nothing, but are from VERTX and one is from LA Police Supply )
Just as the political police organizations are for gun control, so are the political doctor’s organizations. That does not mean the rank and file agree, and in any case, it is none of their business.
If the doctor were to ask me, I would ask him if he has a mistress he is hiding from his wife. One stupid question that is none of his business begets another.
Now, if I lived in a Blue State with “communist” tendencies and liberal do-gooders behind every bush, I might be more discreet. But when I went to the Apple Developer Conference in 2007, in San Francisco, I wore “tactical” pants (mostly Sig Tac at the time) every day, my 5-11 HRT boots (most comfortable footwear I have if you are walking a lot), and an eguns.com T-Shirt every day while there.
You guys all probably have “protected by Smith & Wesson” or “Beware the owner”(with a gun insignia) or “nothing in here is worth your life” bumper stickers as well. Or see nothing wrong with them. When it’s been advised by security experts repeatedly not to do this or advertise in any manner. If you’re going to carry, do so discretely.
I’m not paranoid about anything. I just believe in discretion. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain from being discrete. That’s all I’m saying. I never wear gun wear unless I’m at the range. But hey that’s me. Have at it. Whatever floats your boat. We all different levels of discretion and opsec.
Jarhead: Neither “brave” nor “foolish” if you noted my location. Once upon a time I lived on the Left Coast where anything gun-related was really countercultural. However it’s the other way around here in Wyoming! “PC” has a whole different meaning in these parts.
The new Catholic bishop here is an avid hunter. When he went to visit the new monastery up around Powell the trip photos showed everybody on ATVs. One monk had a bolt action rifle across his lap.
Every once in a while we get tourists with NY plates out here; they have a disoriented look about them.
Nope I don’t have any of those bumper stickers, placards, or similar. And I seriously hope you know the difference between a passive t-shirt that says “brown ells a r15 builder” or “daniel defense” or “tango down” and an “active” bumper sticker warning people to beware.
I’m not paranoid about anything. I just believe in discretion. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain from being discrete. That’s all I’m saying. I never wear gun wear unless I’m at the range. But hey that’s me. Have at it. Whatever floats your boat. We all different levels of discretion and opsec.
I don’t have any bumper stickers that are gun related on my car/truck, though I will cope to a small Magpul window sticker on both.
I disagree with “nothing to gain.”
While I usually don’t wear firearm advertisement clothing, I often have firearm subject books for the waiting room. On more than one occasion the doctor has inquired about my reading material.
So far the closest thing I’ve had to an anti gun doctor was one who asked me about the magazine ban years ago and wanted my feelings about the 10 round magazine limit. I asked him how many chances to protect himself and his family he wanted should they ever be attacked? He told me he really hadn’t ever thought of it like that.
On the other end of the spectrum I ended up thanking a very good doctor who was interested in a defensive handgun with a Glock 19 and we now shoot somewhat regularly.
I have found most doctors to be educated people, and most educated people are capable of rational thought and at least considering the positions of others. The only “anti gun” types I have ever met have been ER workers (who weren’t doctors yet) who see guns in a very simplistic “cause and effect” equation.
And so far none of them have been able to offer me a realistic reason why I shouldn’t be able to shoot back when confronted by those who frequent the ER.
You guys all probably have “protected by Smith & Wesson” or “Beware the owner”(with a gun insignia) or “nothing in here is worth your life” bumper stickers as well.
Nope, not me. In fact, I don’t think I even own anything with a gun oriented logo or slogan on it.
I don’t put firearms-related bumper stickers on my truck but it has nothing to do with whether they might provoke a negative cultural or political reaction from someone.
I see them as an advertisement to thieves saying, “Hey, there might be a rifle or a pistol in this truck!”
As for doctors, I watched my orthopedic surgeon shot 4 inch groups at 600 yards with a set-up that probably cost what my truck’s worth. And my eye doctor is a 3-gun maniac. His idea of a sentimental anniversary present is his and hers Colt Gold Cups.
Doctors must be hoarding full autos and keeping prices high for your safety.
You do seem to be a bit paranoid about this. Probably due to the state you live in. I open carry a handgun everyday, everywhere that is legal. This makes it a little hard not to advertise the fact that I may be interested in firearms. Never having a negative experience from it and starting many positive conversations, I’d say you’re possibly limiting yourself from potential opportunities, friendships, relationships, etc.
Unfortunately, we’re increasingly finding ourselves in a world where “big brother” is watching. Obamacare and medial records online, national databases, goverment having access to your medical records via Obamacare etc. A wide range of people have access to your medical records (regardless of HIPPA) including Employers, potential employers as part of the screening process, to Insurance Companies & several Goverment Agencies.
If you don’t want something in your medical records to come back and possibly bite you someday, it might be a good practice to start telling your doctor only exactly what he/she needs to know and nothing else. Avoid conversations of any sensitve information. Including guns. Your medical records often contain doctors notes about you and things you reveal to them. You might be surprised to find what’s in them.
Some will come back and vehemently argue against this common sense. I swear if someone posted on here the sky was blue, no less than a dozen people would come back and argue otherwise.
The gun control in Obamacare http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2696254/posts
http://gunowners.org/a100909.htm
Among my range buddies are a Gastro, a Psychiatrist, a Radiation Oncologist and a Gynecologist. It was I what got the Gastro into shooting. I was horrified when he, after shooting only a year, went over to the Dark Side. Little did I know, years later I would follow him.
What i still don’t get is WTF wearing a AR15 hat to or during your colonoscopy has to do with a job interview??
And with so many here in the gun industry i’m betting there is a lot worse one could wear on a job interview than a AR15 hat.
I proudly wear my Noveske hat anywhere i want to.
would i wear it to a job interview???
depends on the job.
The great part of being an adult is being allowed to dress yourself.
I’m mostly retired these days so i am lucky to be able to wear what i want and never have been a fan of others telling me what i should or should not wear.
I have found that most people in medicine follow the laws of statistics…about a third are anti-whatever, a third are pro-whatever, and a third just don’t care. Life is one big bell curve, and people in medicine are the same.
I work in an ED now where just about all of the males…docs, nurses, RTs…are either in the mil, have been in the mil, or are otherwise gun enthusiasts.
Let’s keep from unrolling the tinfoil in this thread.
That being said, I agree with those who advocate privacy unless you are confident in your audience. Why advertise? I don’t wear cop stuff, gun stuff, or stuff that’s likely to incite controversy. I tell my docs pertinent stuff about my health. I tell the kid at McDonalds pertinent stuff about my fast food order. Sometimes I can tell that they share my interests, sometimes not.
Be careful of judging entire professions from the outside looking in. There are plenty of like-minded good folks in the medical field. Don’t let the risk-averse administrative or academic infrastructure tarnish the entire field.
As to the contents of medical records… I’ve read more than a few. While some providers are more detailed and verbose, if Big Brother is reading them, he’s going to largely be disappointed.
A gastro, shrink, rad-onc, and gyno walk into a gun store…