The provision was added to the bill after pressure from the National Rifle Association in the final weeks of the healthcare debate.

Bend psychologist, Mike Conner, who also is a gun owner, says he is appalled at the restriction.

"I felt it could be negligent not to ask about firearms.  In what way?  If a patient has an alcohol problem and is depressed, you have to ask them about firearms, because if you can remove that from the situation, the risk of violence or suicide goes way down."

The language doesn't prevent doctors from asking about gun ownership, but prevents them from documenting it.

It was a move to prevent doctors from targeting firearms as a matter of public health.