A shooting range may feel like a world away from a doctor’s office, but some medical professionals in Wisconsin are training one to save lives by learning about firearms.
“I felt like I had a real deficit in talking about firearms with patients,” says Dr. James Bigham, a family physician and professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine.
Bigham teaches a course for medical students and staff on firearms basics at the Max Creek Gun Range along with store and gun owner Steve D’Orazio.
“That’s part of being a responsible gun owner, knowing right from wrong,” D’Orazio said.
During routine visits, Bigham asks patients how they store their guns at home.
“People may think it’s too personal, but as a physician I definitely think I have the space to say, ‘We have to do everything we can to protect our children and our communities,’” Bigham said.
When asked about criticism over whether doctors should have a role in the subject, Bigham said: “I think this is our area. As a GP I also have to talk about firearms when I want to advise you on alcohol use, tobacco use , how you drive your car.”
D’Orazio said he doesn’t believe it’s a Second Amendment issue.
“We have the right to bear arms. I sell guns. That’s the last thing I want to do, take my guns away. It’s not about taking it away, it’s about safety and that’s it,” D’Orazio said.
Nearly 500 people die from it every year accidental shootings, according to the National Security Council. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, firearm suicide rates among adults are at an all-time high and suicide rates among children have risen dramatically. According to the Violence Prevention Research Group, access to firearms in homes makes suicide nearly four times more likely.
There are about 30 million children nationwide living in homes with guns, the CDC says. Children as young as three years old can be strong enough to pull the trigger of a gun, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.
That’s part of the reason why pediatricians at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia say asking parents about safe gun storage is just as important as questions about bicycle helmets and pool safety.
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, 2023 saw the highest number of unintentional shootings involving children, with the victims in most cases being a sibling or friend of the shooter.
Dr. Dorothy Novick also teaches future physicians how to broach the triggering topic.
“All the injury prevention and safety advice that we offer, we now incorporate firearms directly into that conversation to really make it normal,” Novick said.
The Children’s Hospital provides gun locks to families to make their homes safer. Since they started five years ago, they say they have handed out almost 3,000 locks. Gun safes are the best method for storing firearms, and the hospital plans to offer them to patients soon.
The hospital was motivated to implement the program after a surge in gun purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Philadelphia alone, applications for gun permits increased 600% in 2021, city data shows.
“This is really a conversation about safety. This is not a question about politics or ideology. And in fact, people across the ideological spectrum agree that gun safety is truly a fundamental tenet of responsible gun ownership,” Novick said.
