'This Is Our Lane': Doctors Slam NRA After Chicago Hospital Shooting
Less than two weeks after the National Rifle Association launched an attack on “self-important anti-gun doctors,” a mass shooting at a Chicago hospital left at least four people dead.
Emergency room doctor Tamara O’Neal, 38, and pharmacy resident Dayna Less, 25, were shot and killed by an unidentified gunman following a domestic dispute at the Mercy Hospital & Medical Center on Monday. Police officer Samuel Jimenez, 28, who recently completed his new hire probationary period, was also slain.
The suspect died at the scene from a gunshot wound, although it is unclear whether it was self-inflicted or from officers.
Earlier this month, the NRA wrote that physicians with a “collective hobby” of “opining on firearms” should “stay in their lane”:
Someone should tell self-important anti-gun doctors to stay in their lane. Half of the articles in Annals of Internal Medicine are pushing for gun control. Most upsetting, however, the medical community seems to have consulted NO ONE but themselves. https://t.co/oCR3uiLtS7
— NRA (@NRA) November 7, 2018
Following the shooting in Chicago, medical professionals took to social media to once again stress that treating bullet wounds and working to save the lives of those affected by gun violence actually was their “lane”:
Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing, not death.
Schools are supposed to be places of learning, not death.
Churches are supposed to be places of worship, not death.
Our country is supposed to be the United States of America, not a war torn battlefield. Of death. https://t.co/fpBC4LBSNK— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) November 20, 2018
We are all the same lane, together.
We must all drive to end gun violence.
Don’t let the NRA divide and conquer.
Our reality is beyond horrific- we must have the courage to change and win the fight to keep everyone safe and free of fear. https://t.co/PVldsKAEV8— Arne Duncan (@arneduncan) November 20, 2018
Another senseless shooting with lives lost. A Chicago police officer, an EM physician and a pharm tech. Chicago lost 3 people who cared today. How many more tragedies before we have sensible gun laws without @nra holding us hostage. #ThisISOurLane
— Santina Wheat,MD,MPH (@tinawheat) November 20, 2018
#ThisIsOurLane pic.twitter.com/gg2QHXQl6D
— jhrn11 (@jhenrn11) November 20, 2018
Physicians put out a journal about #GunViolence. @NRA tells them to "stay in our lane" let's clap back #ThisIsOurLane and why #Docs4GunSense is real. Let's support the doctors who protect us daily with their service
— Sridhar Yerramreddy (@syerramreddy) November 20, 2018
This hits close to home because I spent time at Mercy hospital during my residency. Time for the medical community to make our voices heard loud and clear. Enough is enough. #thisisourlane https://t.co/RjFRyk4VNW
— Sara Hurtado Bares (@shurtadobares) November 20, 2018
The @NRA doesn't save people dying from gun shot wounds, doctors and nurses do....and now we lost our own to senseless gun violence. FOR GODS SAKE #THISISOURLANE #ANDDONTYOUFORGETIT#MercyHospital
— Sarah Sunny (@sarah_sonny) November 20, 2018
#ThisIsOurLane @ThisIsOurLane pic.twitter.com/nr7zGichV5
— Bryn Dhir 🌎🏥 (@BDhir) November 20, 2018
@NRA question from Chicago where 3 people including a doctor, police officer, and a pharmacy tech were killed in a mass shooting today: Were they in their lane? How many more innocent people have to be murdered before you admit there is a problem? #ThisIsOurLane
— Lisa McEwen (@LisaMcEwen76) November 20, 2018
@NRA her name was Tamara O’Neal. She died right in her lane. #ThisIsOurLane pic.twitter.com/GQw54gM2X6
— Dr Ken (@roto_tudor) November 20, 2018
This is the face of the amazing emergency physician Dr Tamara ONeal, at work today, before she was murdered.
Tonight, hold her, her family, & our colleagues at #MercyHospital #UIC in your hearts.
And tomorrow, pledge to fight for women like her. Because #ThisIsOurLane. #Enough pic.twitter.com/8xUytYnDrc— Megan Ranney MD MPH (@meganranney) November 20, 2018
This evening, Dr. Tamara O'Neal was shot 6 times, murdered while at the hospital where she worked as an ED physician along with a police officer and 2 others. https://t.co/4vVADYfYZ3
Welcome to our lane, @NRA.#ThisIsOurLane— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) November 20, 2018
Clarification: Language in this piece describing Dayna Less’ position at the hospital has been amended to specify that she was a pharmacy resident, not a pharmacy assistant.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.