Iowa Issues Permits for the Blind to Carry Guns in Public

Omicron

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Jul 28, 2010
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Monday, 09 Sep 2013 02:34 PM
By Melanie Batley


Iowa is granting gun carry permits to people who are legally blind or completely blind that will allow them to display, and use if necessary, the guns in public places.

According to the Des Moines Register, the issue has become the subject of debate between disability rights advocates and law enforcement officials about its impact on public safety.

Iowa state law does not allow sheriffs to deny an Iowan the right to carry a weapon based on physical ability, and the Gun Control Act of 1968 and other federal laws do not prohibit blind people from owning guns. Unlike Iowa, however, some states have a variety of vision requirements as a prerequisite to obtaining a permit.

Though the visually impaired have long had the right to private gun ownership in Iowa, changes in gun permit laws in 2011 have opened the door to allowing the visually impaired to legally carry firearms in public.

Delaware Sheriff John LeClere questions the wisdom of the law. "At what point do vision problems have a detrimental effect to fire a firearm? If you see nothing but a blurry mass in front of you, then I would say you probably shouldn't be shooting something."

Patrick Clancy, superintendent of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School also expressed concerns. "Although people who are blind can participate fully in nearly all life's experiences, there are some things, like the operation of a weapon, that may very well be an exception."

But Chris Danielsen, director of public relations for the National Federation of the Blind, disagrees. "There's no reason solely on the [basis] of blindness that a blind person shouldn't be allowed to carry a weapon. Presumably they're going to have enough sense not to use a weapon in a situation where they would endanger other people, just like we would expect other people to have that common sense," he told the Register.

© 2013 Newsmax.
 

Nuggler

kind and gentle
Feb 27, 2006
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8O............Sure, WTF :

Idiots, the retarded, the dysfunctional, illiterate, sexual sadists, serial killers, all qualify.. Why dither just cause a person can't see what they're shooting at...................:roll:
 

#juan

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Aug 30, 2005
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One of the stupest things I've seen in quite a while. I know that there are degrees of blindness and that some people who are "legally" blind can see a bit but giving the blind guns is going to kill people. They are just not competent enough to take responsibility for people's lives if they are shooting without knowing who they put in danger.
 

Sal

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we have a thread going on this already...we will need a merge
 

taxslave

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One of the stupest things I've seen in quite a while. I know that there are degrees of blindness and that some people who are "legally" blind can see a bit but giving the blind guns is going to kill people. They are just not competent enough to take responsibility for people's lives if they are shooting without knowing who they put in danger.

Far safer in the hands of a blind person than a stupid one. Or a drunk.
 

Tecumsehsbones

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One of the stupest things I've seen in quite a while. I know that there are degrees of blindness and that some people who are "legally" blind can see a bit but giving the blind guns is going to kill people. They are just not competent enough to take responsibility for people's lives if they are shooting without knowing who they put in danger.
The same could be said of non-blind gun owners, but we give them a Constitutional right to pack heat.

Seriously, I can see situations where a blind person could effectively use a gun. Like most self-defense situations, which are at point-blank range.
 

#juan

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Aug 30, 2005
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The same could be said of non-blind gun owners, but we give them a Constitutional right to pack heat.

Seriously, I can see situations where a blind person could effectively use a gun. Like most self-defense situations, which are at point-blank range.

As long as these blind people understand that being blind doesn't aliviate their responsibility for any injuries to bystanders caused by their firearms. Maybe blind people carrying firearms should be made to carry signs or something identifying them as blind gun packers so that sane people can get the hell away from them.
 

Tecumsehsbones

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As long as these blind people understand that being blind doesn't aliviate their responsibility for any injuries to bystanders caused by their firearms. Maybe blind people carrying firearms should be made to carry signs or something identifying them as blind gun packers so that sane people can get the hell away from them.
Blind people should be no more, and no less, obligated to do this or that than sighted people.
 

#juan

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Nonsense Sir, Good eyesight has to be a prime consideration to licence a person to have a firearm. "I thought it was a bear" cannot be an excuse for shooting your brother in law...Lots of other excuses already exist....
 

Tecumsehsbones

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Mar 18, 2013
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Nonsense Sir, Good eyesight has to be a prime consideration to licence a person to have a firearm. "I thought it was a bear" cannot be an excuse for shooting your brother in law...Lots of other excuses already exist....
Seriously? You think that only blind people try excusing their piss-poor judgement with guns?