by Carolyn Bradley Bursack

The debate surrounding gun ownership has been raging for decades, and I want to preface this article by acknowledging that advancing age, by itself, should not preclude anyone from leading an independent life and enjoying their rights and privileges. However, when exercising one’s freedoms threatens others’ safety and puts oneself in danger, I believe some sort of intervention is necessary.

I find that a simple comparison helps me wrap my head around this heavily contested topic. Many families are familiar with the dreaded process of taking away an aging loved one’s car keys. Whether an elder starts getting lost while driving, experiences a few fender benders or near misses, or their eyesight or reaction time is worsening, at some point it becomes clear that they should no longer be on the road. In my opinion, guns are in the same category as cars. Both items are useful tools, but they can also be lethal, whether intentionally or accidentally.

While I’ve never owned a gun, I live in an area where hunting is a popular sport. Many households have one or more guns used for hunting, and some people also own hand guns for protection. I feel that if an elder is cognitively sound and has good eyesight and reflexes, he or she should be able to possess a firearm for hunting and self-defense. I don’t feel that age alone should be a deciding factor with guns any more than it is with driving. But, as with the ability to drive a car, the time may come for many elders when owning a gun is no longer safe. That’s when the challenge of removing this hazard arises.

When Does Gun Ownership Become Too Dangerous?

Continuing with the comparison between the ability to safely own a firearm and drive a car, the answer to this question is very rarely black and white. In fact, part of the difficulty with taking away an aging loved one’s driving privileges is that they usually haven’t harmed themselves or others or caused any property damage…yet. Their family members can see the writing on the wall and are anxious about what could happen if they continue getting behind the wheel. The trouble is that the time to cut an elder off may only become clear after something conclusive occurs.

Daniel C. Potts, MD, a neurologist at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, founder and president of the Cognitive Dynamics Foundation and medical director of Dementia Dynamics, LLC, feels that elders who are not cognitively impaired should be allowed to continue owning guns without any restrictions that are not already in place for the general population. “The case of documented cognitive impairment, however, would be different,” Dr. Potts says.

Cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and mental health disorders, such as depression and psychosis, are the biggest red flags for families to look for when deciding if it is still safe for a loved one to own a gun. Confusion, memory issues, inability to recognize or remember who friends and family are, impaired decision-making capabilities, delusions, hallucinations and paranoia can all contribute to a terrible accident.

“I personally feel that guns should be removed from the homes of those with documented dementia,” Dr. Potts explains, “or at least sequestered safely so that only family members with their faculties have access to them.”

Other less serious age-related factors that might at least warrant a healthy discussion about responsible gun ownership and safe handling techniques and storage practices include changes in eyesight, hearing loss, slowed response times, use of certain types of drugs that can affect mood, judgement, and alertness, and limited mobility and coordination. Even if an elder is emotionally stable and mentally competent, certain physical conditions can still contribute to dangerous mistakes.

Tough Question of the Month?

Should Senior Citizens have to go through extra testing to prove they can responsibly
manage a Firearm ? Is this against the 2nd Amendment ? What Age?