That depends....Do you have a gun?

So I am sitting in the ER one morning, talking with the registrar. She walks to the balk of the ER to guide a visitor to a room. While she is gone an old man (by old I am guessing in his 70's) walks into the ER lobby. While it might seem dumb, you have to ask people why they are there. Not everyone that walks into the ER is actually looking for medical treatment. In fact I would dare say that maybe less than half of them need medical treatment.

So as the man enters, he looks around a bit to see who is there to assist him. Being alone in the lobby, I ask the man if I can help him. He opens his mouth to reply, then pauses as he sees the Taser on my belt. He then says "Well that depends. Do you have a gun?".

I'm sure my eyebrows shot up off my faces as they rose in surprise. A gun? Why would my possession of a gun change my ability to help him? Does he think I might shoot him if he asks the wrong question?

I cautiously state that while no I don't carry a gun, yes that is a Taser on my right hip. I should mention that at up till this point my arms were folded across my chest. They no longer were. The man walks up to me and pulls a strange syringe out of his sweater pocket. Yes I know its august, but yes he was wearing a Mr Rogers type sweater. 70's ish remember. He then explains to me using several name brands and large words I know the man doesn't actually understand that he is holding an insulin syringe, and needs 4 needle adapters for it. Do we have any that he could have by chance? I almost fell of the counter I was sitting on.....laughing. Insulin? Needles? Do I have a gun? I told him to wait till the registrar returned, and she would better be able to answer his question.

I did laugh till I almost cried when he walked out of the ER lobby, empty handed. That depends.....Do you have a gun?