Anyone who would leave unsecured and possibly loaded weapons lying around has abdicated that responsibility. Calif. T his guy Dwayne, as described in the story, is irresponsible for not telling his wife that he has a shotgun. He had children running around his apartment and guns that are stored improperly. If, God forbid, one of the children should shoot themselves, the parent will feel guilt that will most likely ruin their life. But Susan Straight is also irresponsible for possessing, fearing and not learning how to safely handle a firearm.
Guns do deserve respect, just like any dangerous tool or animal.
Fearing guns, and pretending they don't exist, is the worst treatment of this issue. I , too, work in an emergency department, several hundred miles north in San Francisco. Like L.A. County, we have a problem of long waits, but part of the problem was revealed in your story. You mention Mr. Funk, of the ear infection and clogged sinuses. Far too many people use the E.R. instead of primary care.