(from aap.org)
According to all of the junk mail I have been receiving lately, the American Academy of Pediatric’s annual meeting is taking place next month in—wait for it—Chicago!
That’s right, one of the most rabid anti-gun medical organizations is holding their national meeting in one of the most rabid anti-gun—yet rife-with-murder—cities in the U. S.
One of the headlining addresses they are advertising for the meeting on Sunday is “Gun Safety: An American Crisis” by Gary Wheeler, MD, MPS, FAAP–Chief Medical Officer, Arkansas Department of Health. The précis reads:
“What is the AAP doing to keep children safe from gun violence and how can you help? In this session, hear examples of ways the Academy has advocated at the state and federal level and how pediatricians can join efforts to protect children from guns. Whether using the media, promoting a bill, collaborating with other stakeholders, or pursuing legal action, there are many ways to continue to build momentum on the need to protect children from gun violence.”
Once again, the AAP and its minions isolate “gun violence” from violence in general, despite one of their own publications (noted in my last piece for DRGO, “For the Children”) stating:
“It is important to remember that many types of violence are interconnected and that firearm violence does not stand in isolation when developing preventive interventions. There are a number of strategies to prevent violence.”
Apparently these people don’t read their own research. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be talking about “protect[ing] children from guns”—as if a firearm is a sentient being capable of making moral choices on its own, rather than a tool to be used for good or ill, which is entirely dependent upon the moral character of the operator. Instead, they would be focusing on inner city criminal and gang violence (Like . . . oh . . . let’s say Chicago’s) that their own research indicates is the root cause of most “child” deaths by firearm.
I’m sure that the AAP attendees will be safely ensconced inside an affluent area of town, behind conference doors guarded by (probably armed) hotel security. I’m also sure that no one in attendance will recognize either the irony, or the classist “privilege” under which they enjoy that safety. There will likely be zero recognition that the very gun-control laws that they espouse effectively condemn poorer citizens of their host city and state to lives of fear and victimization—stripped of the ability to defend themselves from the criminal gang element that deals death and mayhem in their streets and homes.
Despite the McDonald Supreme Court ruling in 2010, Chicago has dragged its feet in recognizing the constitutional rights of its own citizens. But will any of this be mentioned during the “Gun Safety” speech? I have my doubts.
I will not be attending this event. I consider Death-by-PowerPoint second only to schmoozing among my least favorite activities. Gouging my own eyes out with a rusty spoon might be preferable. Especially when I would be paying nearly $300 per night for a hotel room for the “privilege” (see what I did there?) in addition to the $700 conference registration fee. If you think medical professional organizations aren’t money-making rackets, you are hopelessly naive.
In addition to those exciting prospects, the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago do not recognize my concealed carry permit. They only grudgingly extend that recognition to a handful of their own citizens at this point. And that, only under federal pressure. If anyone thinks I would spend that kind of money to go to a place like Chicago, and go unarmed, they are sadly mistaken.
AAP, it’s your kind of town, Chicago is!
—“Dr. LateBloomer” is the pen name of a female general pediatrician (MD, MPH, FAAP) who enjoys competitive shooting sports, including IDPA, USPSA and 3-Gun. Evil semi-automatic firearms are her favorites.