Iowa Debates Issuing Guns To The Blind
“IT seems a little strange, but the way the law reads we can’t deny them (a permit) just based on that one thing,” says Sgt. Jana Abens, a spokeswoman for the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa, referring to blind person’s right to own and carry a gun. “In the past year, Polk County has issued permits to at least three people who were legally blind, or were unable to read the application form due to visual impairment.”
Delaware County Sheriff John LeClere adds:
“I’m not an expert in vision. 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.”
Warren Wethington, the Cedar County sheriff, says blind people should be able to carry a loaded gun:
“There’s no reason, solely on the basis of blindness that a blind person shouldn’t be allowed to carry a weapon… Blocking visually impaired people from the right to obtain gun permits would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and, presumably, blind people are going to have enough sense not to use a weapon in a situation where they would endanger other people. If sheriffs spent more time trying to keep guns out of criminals’ hands and not people with disabilities, their time would be more productive.”
Fire at will.
Posted: 16th, October 2013 | In: Reviews, Strange But True Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
