And apparently it includes those who work for the Blind.
The Register became aware that a handful of Iowans with visual impairments can carry weapons in public because county sheriffs and their staffs recalled issuing those permits. Sheriff officials in most of the cases said they were uncertain about the extent of the visual impairments.
Clancy, superintendent of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, said the range of sight among people who are classified as legally blind varies greatly. He believes there are situations where such applicants can safely handle a gun.
However, he 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,” Clancy said.
First, how come it is BLIND when it comes to guns but “visually impaired” for other stuff? Second: Nobody expects (including the visually impaired shooters) to be taking 25 yard shots, but that does not mean they cannot use their guns in a defensive manner, specially when a bad guy thinks they are easy pickings and get a wee bit to close to the intended victim.
The good part starts at 1:40
And also, it is their gorramed right to carry a gun, OK?
I feel like I’d want to use a slightly different technique with a revolver.
Good stuff to keep in mind, though.
I know of LOE’S who were “night visully impaired ” who worked the night shift and carried off duty at night
I have a family member who is “blind,” but the blindness is manifested as extreme tunnel vision. No peripheral vision at all. Imagine looking at the world through paper towel tubes, and that’s a good approximation of what this person sees, 24/7.
Because of the peripheral vision (or lack thereof), a driver’s license is out of the question, but sighting in a well-placed shot? Hell, the tunnel vision might actually HELP that by making distractions literally “invisible!”
My Father-in-Law is visually impaired. He was legally Blind for several years until his condition improved.
Yes, while he was blind he couldn’t safely operate a motor vehicle, but he COULD see things with reasonable clarity inside of 15 yards. Given the size of his home, and the distances most defensive engagement occur I have little concerns about him identifying a threat and making successful hits on a target with his gun.
Of course none of this is about “Blind People Getting Guns” but about finding ANY way to deny ANY lawful gun owner their rights.
Exactly. My family member sees just fine within that small area he can see. He judges distance well and can see fairly clearly with his glasses (which aren’t particularly thick; certainly thinner than mine!). He’s a fan of revolvers, and I think he’d do fine with a scoped rifle.
But like you said, it’s not about “Blind People Getting Guns” any more than it is about “safety” or “common sense” (the perrenial favorite phrase of one Joan Peterson). It’s about dividing and conquering, one slice of the population at a time. It starts with the politically-correct (from a “public safety” perspective) groups, but any semi-honest anti-freedom-type will admit that it’s just that: a start.
Here in Georgia, they let (almost) blind people drive. No one has checked my vision at license renewals for many years. No wonder we have so many accidents!
The way I look at it, if it were pitch dark and I were getting raped or murdered, I would use my firearm to defend myself. How is that different from people who are visually impaired?