Concealed carry permits have been given to atleast a handfull of blind men in USA. I Personally don't believe your average person shouldn't be allowed to own a handgun and that widespread access to guns create more problems than it solves, but that debate is for another thread. So for those of you that do believe the average person should be able to own a handgun, should a blind person too be allowed to own one? To carry concealed?I don't think the visually impaired should be able to carry concealed much less even own a gun guns at all. My argument is that if I were caught hunting with a blind fold on I would rightfully be sent to prison for reckless endangerment.
I think guns should be treated like cars. Both the gun and the user should be registered/licensed, and the user should have to regularly pass some sort of operations/safety test (and this comes from someone who has his CC permit, so I am far from anti-gun in the general sense). I don't want blind people carrying guns for the same reason I don't want them using cars, it presents tremendous risk for the people around them.
My boss is legally blind and he keeps two revolvers in a locked desk in his office. He wears thick glasses and can barely see even with them on. I once asked if he kept them loaded to which he responded "there isn't much point to an unloaded gun". I didn't say anything but it scared the crap out of me. So no.
With the right equipment and support, the blind can safely target shoot. So we must be careful that the law does not effectively say "No guns for you, ever" and unfairly rule out this empowering activity. But for everyday carry (concealed or otherwise)? Totally unsafe. Obviously.
I'll accept someone "legally blind" having a gun, but completely blind? That's madness.
Gun safety requires the ability not just to see the target, but to positively identify it as someone or something that may justifiably be shot. If someone sees people as blurs beyond five feet, they can't perform this identification.
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It can also be dangerous for the blind person themselves. A favorite law school case of mine involved facts almost too bizarre to be true. A blind elderly man was a short wave radio nut. The local short wave radio "scene" was fairly limited and he became bitter enemies with one of the few other short wave radio enthusiasts who was on the same time as he on a regular basis. One night, knowing the blind man owned guns from prior conversations, the mans rival stated he was going to travel to the blind mans house and murder him. The rival then called the police, provided the police with the blind mans address and stated that an insane person was menacing the neighborhood with a shotgun from the address. The police proceeded over and found the blind man on his porch holding a shotgun. When they proceeded up the porch the blind man yelled that he was going to kill the rival before he could kill him, fired a shot in the air and pointed the weapon onto the porch. The elderly man was killed in a hail of police gunfire. This is an extreme scenario used in law school to illustrate proximate cause, however, it does provide a memorable example of the dangers of giving the disabled weapons, even if they are not concealed carry.
honestly? at that point, why didn't the police identify themselves as they were approaching? isn't that standard procedure or something?
On the subject of the blind with concealed carry permits: I actually have to say that it is a bad idea, barring extenuating circumstances.
The way I see it is, if it doesn't provide acute detriment to your life or the lives of those around you, go for it. In this case, it honestly could hurt more people than it helps. While there are a few blind people who could be responsible enough to have a CC (I knew a guy who could tell how far away you were and what direction you were going based on sound and smell) the vast majority frankly aren't like that, and are more likely to be a danger to themselves and those around them.
I'll accept someone "legally blind" having a gun, but completely blind? That's madness.
Gun safety requires the ability not just to see the target, but to positively identify it as someone or something that may justifiably be shot. If someone sees people as blurs beyond five feet, they can't perform this identification.
Yeah, I didn't understand exactly what "legally blind" meant when I wrote that. Rescinded.
If they can manage a firearm safely in spite of being blind, sure. There are people who can handle a motor vehicle despite not having hands; although safely using a gun without functional eyes seems like a harder obstacle to overcome (If doable at all).
Definite no. If just reminds me of Look at me, I'm the DCI but instead of darts it's a loaded revolver but the cards are people. When you hold the power of life and death in your hands you ought to know what you're doing and a legally blind person cannot reasonably do that at all being blind/not knowing who they're firing at.
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Concealed carry permits have been given to atleast a handfull of blind men in USA. I Personally don't believe your average person shouldn't be allowed to own a handgun and that widespread access to guns create more problems than it solves, but that debate is for another thread. So for those of you that do believe the average person should be able to own a handgun, should a blind person too be allowed to own one? To carry concealed?I don't think the visually impaired should be able to carry concealed much less even own a gun guns at all. My argument is that if I were caught hunting with a blind fold on I would rightfully be sent to prison for reckless endangerment.
What do yall think?
I'll accept someone "legally blind" having a gun, but completely blind? That's madness.
I think guns should be treated like cars. Both the gun and the user should be registered/licensed, and the user should have to regularly pass some sort of operations/safety test (and this comes from someone who has his CC permit, so I am far from anti-gun in the general sense). I don't want blind people carrying guns for the same reason I don't want them using cars, it presents tremendous risk for the people around them.
Gun safety requires the ability not just to see the target, but to positively identify it as someone or something that may justifiably be shot. If someone sees people as blurs beyond five feet, they can't perform this identification.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
On the subject of the blind with concealed carry permits: I actually have to say that it is a bad idea, barring extenuating circumstances.
The way I see it is, if it doesn't provide acute detriment to your life or the lives of those around you, go for it. In this case, it honestly could hurt more people than it helps. While there are a few blind people who could be responsible enough to have a CC (I knew a guy who could tell how far away you were and what direction you were going based on sound and smell) the vast majority frankly aren't like that, and are more likely to be a danger to themselves and those around them.
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