Approach The Topic With Sensitivity and Respect
Remember, for many gun owners, having a gun in the home is their way of protecting their loved ones. It can also be
part of a cultural upbringing, means of providing, or even sport. Approaching a firearm as an object of risk, while true,
may alienate a patient. As such, it is best to:
• Begin the conversation in a non-judgmental and open-ended manner.
• Use empathetic language to show that your primary concern is the patient’s safety and well-being.
• Remember to frame the conversation as a standard one, done with every patient, as opposed to a targeted
conversation.
• For example, “As part of our routine safety checks, we talk to all of our patients about home safety, including the
safe storage of medications and firearms. Are your medications safely stored? Do you have any firearms at home?”
• Ask open-ended questions to understand their specific situation and practices.
• For example, “How do you store your firearms?”; “What steps do you take to ensure that your firearms are kept out
of reach of children and unauthorized users?”
