Assessing competency for concealed-weapons permits - The physician's role

Shortly after the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, two of us received letters from our county sheriff in North Carolina asking whether one of our patients had medical or physical conditions that would preclude issuance of a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Uncomfortable with our limited knowledge about such permits and our expected role, and fearing that our participation could affect our relationships with patients, we began exploring the ethical, legal, and policy considerations regarding physician involvement in this process

Physician attitudes and experience with permit applications for concealed weapons

To the Editor: Every U.S. state allows people to carry concealed weapons within certain limits and after varied approval processes. Although many states require physician participation to help determine competency, it is not known whether physicians are capable of assessing a patient’s competence to carry a concealed weapon