This is our lane!

When I was working in the ER, an ambulance brought in three gunshot victims. All hell broke loose as we struggled to help. The 28-year-old police officer died, blood pouring from his chest and mouth. A young woman was hit in the pelvis, causing lifelong damage. A young man was barely alive, a 9 mm bullet hole all the way through his head.

Thirty seconds, one pistol, four 9 mm bullets, one dead and two permanently injured. The locker room was silent as we changed our blood-soaked scrubs and shoes. I have had other times like this - most physicians have.

Our Constitution provides for an armed citizenry to defend themselves against those who would use the tyranny of the state to suppress our rights as citizens. The NRA tried to wield that power in Florida to suppress the free speech rights of physicians to discuss weapons with their patients. The NRA has used the power of the federal state to suppress the right to use our own CDC to study gun violence any way we citizens see fit.

NRA, you are becoming the tyrant.

This is our lane.

This is our right.

This is our country too!

Jeff O’Connor, M.D.

Spokane