I just joined a new gym (snap fitness). They have an online health assessment. Obviously, my weight came back terrible (but we're changing that). Eating came back bad to (because of Atkins).
What really got me mad was the SAFETY questions. In particular "Do you have a handgun in your home?"
Well, yes, I do, thank you very much. Apparently, that increases my "personal safety" risk factors. They must have missed the memo that hand guns are used by women 3-4 times as often in defense of themselves or their children.
I know it shouldn't get me all riled up, but really, what business is it of theirs? And what does it matter? They are a GYM focusing on my fitness, and possible nutrition (if I pay $4.95/month). I can understand how stress levels would affect both of those, but not my gun ownership.
I don't understand either? Because you made the decision to have a handgun - wouldn't it make you calmer knowing that you now have one quietly in it's place. I must be missing something. Maybe they are also taking into account your stress levels?
I don't think they should be asking you that either. What business is it of theirs, and how does it really figure into your health/fitness assessment for the gym? You could always bring it up with someone at the gym.
Just a thought: There has been a push to help women with domestic violence issues in communities, so maybe that is a piece of it. I still think it is weird though, and the DV thing is a stretch.
Did they ask you if you feel safe at home? That is usually a DV question, and if they were paired, that might be the motivation for the question. But I guess your gun actually makes you feel safer, thank you very much!
Yeah, they did ask if I felt safe at home, if I was a single mom, if my partner was abusive, etc. So that was where they were going, but...hand guns are supposed to make you feel safe, lol.
I'm one of those crazy farm girls who keeps a gun and a clip in a case under my bed - that's just how it is in my neck of the woods. If you don't own a gun, people think you're CRAZY.
And there has been a string of break ins in my town over the past month, so when hubby works late and I hear a bump in the night, you'll usually find me sitting up in bed, reading, with the clip and the gun sitting on the night stand. If someone wants to break into my house and steal something, fine. I can buy new stuff, and I'm not into the idea of taking someone's life because they wanted to burglarize.
But if they start moving up those stairs towards where my kids sleep, they'll meet my friend Mr. Bersa. =)
Maybe they want to make a workout program for you that will include some self defense. However, the gun question is a bit weird. Maybe they think you'll get upset and come in and shoot up the place.
My intake assessment with my new family physician had this question built into it as well. I responded "yes" and I suppose that doing so affected my ultimate assessment, but I believe the intent is to take into account factors correlated with poor health/morbidity. Obviously, some assessments are now looking outside the obvious behavioral risk factors like excessive alcohol consumption, etc., and correlating other behaviors with measures of health. Can you redo the online assessment? Does it even matter? That is, if a personal trainer will be using it as a baseline measurement or something, maybe see if you can alter your response.
I think they worry that "fat chicks" are suicidal because they steriotype us as all emotionally unbalanced and crying over our gallons of icecream *rolls eyes* Its none of their buisness and I wouldnt have answered.
Its interesting that this question is on doctor assessments and gym memberships. I don't think that its anyones business whether or not you have a gun in your home, and the fact that you have answered the question yes should be a flag that its a legally obtained gun and that you are more than likely a cautious gun owner. Maybe they should ask if you have knives in your kitchen too.
A semi-automatic gun has two parts (that easily come apart, lol). The gun itself and the clip. The clip is a little, usually rectangular, piece of metal that stacks the bullets in a pressure system similar to make-up at the grocery store - when one comes out, the others go up. It sits up inside the handle of the gun.
Fatburner, no the assessment doesn't really matter. It's just a way for the trainer to more accurately assess "where I'm at" and "what I need." Maybe he'll buy me a box of ammo for Easter, lol. =)
I could see where a doctor is going (especially since they all ask if you wear a seat belt now, lol). I was asked that when I had to take my daughter to the ER after her run in with a car door. I answered yes, and was given a mini riot act about gun safety laws in Illinois. Like I was a bad mother for owning a weapon.
But, at the same time, statistically a woman who owns a hand gun is safer than a woman who doesn't. Like I said, it's something like for every 1 instance of a woman being injured by a weapon, 3-4 women discharge it to protect themselves. It seems like more prying and propaganda from the anti-gun lobby...
Kind of insulted, has anyone heard of this?
