Show Notes
Episode 208. Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership: Dr. John Edeen on Medical Bias, Suppressors, and Defending the 2A
In this episode of the Forge of Freedom podcast, recorded live at the NRA Annual Meeting in Houston, Alex Ooley sits down with Dr. John Edeen — a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Navy veteran, firearms instructor, and Membership Director of Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership (DRGO).
Dr. Edeen shares his journey from the Navy and medical missions to becoming a leading voice countering anti-gun bias in the medical community. The conversation covers DRGO’s mission to combat flawed research, the science of suppressors and hearing protection, how to handle gun-related questions from doctors, the flaws in treating “gun violence” as a public health issue, and the critical importance of defensive gun uses.
Guest Bio:
Dr. John Edeen is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon based in San Antonio, Texas. A Columbia University-trained physician and Navy veteran (including service on the USS Peleliu and a deployment to Somalia), he is also a Range Master, NRA, and Massad Ayoob Group firearms instructor. He serves as Membership Director for Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership (DRGO), part of the Second Amendment Foundation, where he advocates for evidence-based policy and fights medical community bias against the Second Amendment.
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and welcome at the NRA Annual Meeting
00:58 – Recording from Voices of the Second Amendment media row
01:25 – Dr. Edeen’s background: Columbia, Navy service, pediatric orthopedics, international medical missions
03:21 – How Dr. Edeen got into firearms and the Second Amendment
04:28 – Meeting Mark Walters, Massad Ayoob, and entering gun rights advocacy
06:50 – Joining Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership (DRGO) and its origins with Tim Wheeler
10:07 – DRGO’s mission: Countering bias in medical literature
11:33 – Website resources (drgo.us), articles, and advocacy
12:37 – Suppressors, hearing protection science, and the ENT position paper
16:20 – Deep dive into ear anatomy, cochlea, hair cells, and noise-induced damage (with visuals)
19:23 – Decibel science and why suppressors + ear pro matter
22:11 – What to do when your doctor asks about gun ownership
28:42 – Strategies for patients: Questions to ask, boundary violations, and medical board complaints
32:45 – Addressing child safety, rapid-access safes, and defensive utility of firearms
34:47 – Public health vs. individual rights, “gun violence” myths, and defensive gun uses (2.4 million estimate)
37:10 – How to join DRGO, benefits, and 2ADoc.com
42:20 – Hospital active shooter risks, gun-free zones, and closing thoughts
Key Resources & Links
Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership Website: drgo.us
Find a 2A-Friendly Doctor 2ADoc.com
Suppressor / Hearing Protection Paper (mentioned 2017 ENT/neuro-otologist paper) – Available in DRGO archives
Join DRGO – $35 membership (open to doctors, nurses, EMTs, lawyers, and general supporters)
Forge of Freedom Links
YouTube | Rumble | Facebook | X | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | All major platforms
Website: forgeoffreedom.com
Call to Action
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share to help spread the message of freedom. Leave a review on your favorite platform — it really helps!
Stay vigilant, train hard, and remember: You are the Forge of Freedom.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com