Thanks to changes in gun permit changes that took effect in 2011, visually impaired Iowans can now legally carry firearms in public. One side of the argument states that it would violate the Americans Disabilities Act to block the visually impaired from the right to obtain a weapons permit. And its true, no one is questioning the legality of the permits, but its more a question of public safety. Delaware County Sheriff John LeClere says, "If you see nothing but a blurry mass in front of you, then I would say you probably shouldn't be shooting something." However, you can receive special training if you are the visually impaired and wish to own a gun. And there are provisions in Iowa's law that allows sheriffs to deny a permit if probable cause exists to believe that the person would be a danger to themselves or others. Hudson, the executive director of the Disability Rights Iowa, says, "The fact that you can't drive a car doesn't mean you can't go to shooting range and see a target."
The author of this article, Jason Clayworth, is writing from Iowa and is not blind. I believe this gives him a slight bias towards not giving permits to the blind. This was written to inform people of an issue that is present in Iowa at the moment. It is a very serious argument: Should blind people be allowed to own and fire a gun? Even though I do not live in Iowa, it interests me because if it happens there, it could happen here in Texas as well.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/08/iowa-grants-gun-permits-to-the-blind/2780303/
Such an interesting article. Also, such a touchy subject, i believe that i would be against people who are blind having guns, but then i wounder if they ever come into a situation where they need a gun, how could they protect themselves?
ReplyDeleteComment by Tyra Harris, 5th period
ReplyDeleteI believe firmly believe that all citizens, regardless of disability or illness, are entitled to the right to bear arms as the 2nd amendment states. However, there's a difference between carrying a gun in public and having it in your home. I don't think it's a good idea to allow the blind to have a concealed gun license. By carrying a weapon in public, a visually impaired person is capable of putting many others in danger.