www.PearHead.org

There is ammo that renders anyone beyond the assailant safe. Shotshells keep your walls and house safe, while causing damage to your assailant.

Since I wrote the original post (last May) I believe I've heard of such ammo, but not seen it. I'd be curious on some brand names and/or links.

A person who is Legally Blind may still have vision, although it may be limited. It doesn't mean he or she is totally blind.

I saw an article about him or another legally blind person before, who lived in this area, and had a Concealed Carry Permit. The person was able to hit the target on the shooting range.

Should he be legally allowed to defend himself? I think so. I live in the same city, Moorhead, MN.
I am not afraid of being shot by a Legally Blind person with a permit. I am afraid of someone who carries without a permit.

The fact that he worked so hard to get the permit shows he intends to comply with the law. If he had criminal intent, he would have no reason to apply for a Concealed Carry Permit.

a blind man with a gun? gimme a friggin' break. Is a recipe for blowing some innocent child's head off.

I just went to a shooting competition for the blind in Sweden. Of course they can shoot things, and some of them better than sighted people. It just takes a bit longer to aim, with audio.

I don't doubt at all that they can aim and shoot. I haven't heard of such a system until you described it, but it certainly makes sense.

My issue is that in the real-world (ie. not on a range), having a blind person shoot would be harmful to innocent bystanders around them. There are no audio tones to let them know when they are pointed at their target...

I just went to a shooting competition for the blind in Sweden. Of course they can shoot things, and some of them better than sighted people. It just takes a bit longer to aim, with audio.

Nice job at copying the last comment word for word!

He said he was a victim of domestic violence growing up and was stalked by gang members. "I've had situations where I would have felt threatened if I hadn't been carrying," he said.

Thanks for the post. I thing the writer is correct. So keep it come. Looking forward to seeing more. Thanks

I'm sorry but is this serious? Why would he think he should be able to have a gun? He's BLIND! He could be pointing the gun at someone and not even realize it. Some people you may wonder if they shouldn't have a gun like kids under 12 or 13, elderly people who cannot stand steadily, the mentally ill and Nazi followers. But someone who can't see? Why is that even a question?

There is ammo that renders anyone beyond the assailant safe. Shotshells keep your walls and house safe, while causing damage to your assailant.

boediger

I am a blind person who owns a gun. I am in the process of applying for my chp. I think some of the people posting on this site need to be braught up to speed regarding their intelligence. 1. A blind person with a gun is not more dangerous than anyone else with a gun. Anyone I would shoot at would generally be within feet of me not yards, would generally make a sound, speak, move, etc. All of these items make noises that allow me to identify where they are. I was a wrestler when I was younger and people thought they could win by simply getting away from me and tackling me from behind. Unfortunately for them their shoes made sounds on the map. I would never put my finger on the trigger unless I was sure of the person's location.
2. There are plenty of people out there that have a chl that are more dangerous than me, the drunk who still goes hunting, the people with violent tempers, people who become incredabley nervous in difficult situations, etc, all of these are more likely to cause accidental discharges than my situation.
3. I also carry a cane, I am more likely to club someone with it in a difficult situation than to draw. The cane is readily available.
4. Has anyone considered it is the principle, if I can pass the course including the target section why should I be denyed the opportunity?
5. I have been blind since I was six, and handling guns since about the same time, I know safety, many of the people here seem to assume that a blind person has disregard for safety but all sited people automatically know the safety rules, give me a break.

Oh, by the way, I have done a number of things you wouldn't think a blind person could do, or what you would consider unsafe, rode, trained, and broken horses, driven a car, worked on a roof, operated power tools, and a number of other items you might consider dangerous.

"The uninformed and ignorant will surely kill us all"

Thanks for the comments.

1. Can you see my 4 year old daughter that is 20' beyond your target when you pull the trigger?

2. Just because there are others who are just as or more dangerous doesn't mean that this is the right thing to do - that's some severely flawed logic.

4. See #1. Unfortunately you don't have the ability to see what is in the distance. Your increased senses still won't pick up something that is far enough away - something that your bullet will still affect.

Because you have done things that I wouldn't think a blind person can do doesn't mean that it was done safely. Driven a car would be a prime example. See #1.

I understand your concern, however, I would argue that there are several situations where sighted people can not see beyond their target either. Each year several people are struck by stray bullets, and how many of them are fired by blind people? Imagine a bad guy enters your home at night, you wipe the sleep from your eyes and grab your gun, are you going to ask him if you can turn on the light befor you shoot him. You fire, and you miss, the bullet goes through the wall stiking and killling your daughter, or goes through your wall in your neighbors window killing them while they sleep. The point is, you never know exactly what is beyond your target especially behind walls etc. I would never draw my gun in a crowd, that is just stupid, if I am confronted in a crowd I would fight, but only pull my gun as a last resort. In a crowd, it is too likely you will shoot someone else, and it is likely others will come to your aid. Also, in many situations the presence of the weapon ends the confrontation and the gun does not have to be fired. Many people are frightened of guns because they do not understand them, you are frightened of a blind person with a gun because you do not understand it. As long as someone is safe, take precautions, and knows their weapon well, I have no problem with them carrying. By the way, when I talked about driving a car you assumed it was on a city street, you would be wrong. I grew up on a farm, my job was to feed the hogs, the feed bin was about two hundred yards from the hog pen, I decided it was easier to haul feed by truck then by pale, I would drive forward at about two miles per hour until the front touched the hog pen, I would drive in reverse until I bumped the feed bin, this made my job easier and more efficient. I have become very successful in my job and personal life by learning how to make accomodations to safelyu do the same things as others. Having a gun is the same. i'm sure you can agree that there is a safe way to handle a gun and an unsafe way, as long as one is being safe, conscious of their surroundings, etc, what is the problem?

I agree, there are a LOT of situations where people with sight mess up or aren't able to properly identify what's beyond the target. The point is to minimize that risk by not taking large chances.

I think you answered your own question at the end with your examples (the example of driving in particular).

You drove in a very controlled environment - you indicate that you've not driven on the open highway going 55 mph.

To me, a blind person carrying a gun is the same way. To shoot in a controlled environment (a range for example) is one thing - to carry a gun in a public place (granted, with the hope that you never need to use it, yet also understanding that it's there for your protection and there FOR your use) is another thing.

Driving on the farm = target practice at a range. Driving on the open road = Carrying a gun at the county fair.

Also, although I don't have a conceal/carry permit, I do know that you are instructed to never pull your gun from it's holster unless you fully intend to use it. Showing it as a way to end the confrontation will only make things worse.

Thanks again for your comments.

So your arguments are:

1) You've done a lot of things people wouldn't expect a blind person to be able to do, and

2) People get killed by stray bullets all the time, and how many of those are from guns fired by a blind person, and

3) Nobody can ever be REALLY sure what's beyond their target, behind a wall, etc., and

4) Consider the principle.

There are other arguments, but that's enough for me.

Rebuttals:

1) I don't care. Just because you can do some things that I wouldn't expect you to doesn't make it reasonable or safe for you to do other unexpected things. If I run a marathon (something nobody would expect me to do), should I then be able to get a permit for a gun? No, because the two things, much like driving and shooting a gun, are completely unrelated. Don't make connections between two things that have none.

2) What difference does it make? Just because people aren't routinely killed by bullets from a gun fired by a blind person doesn't mean it won't happen, and doesn't make it acceptable. I'm sure you agree with this, which makes me wonder why you mentioned this as a reason at all.

3) Again, so what? So everyone should be allowed to have guns because, hey, you can never be sure?

4) The principle? Consider this. Not everyone on planet Earth, or everyone in America, even, is able or entitled to do the same things. You can cite the second amendment, but putting guns into the hands of people who aren't equipped to use them infringes on people's right to life, which is guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence.

A lot of people seem to feel a sense of entitlement which overrides common sense and thoughtfulness regarding others.

I am not frightened of a blind person with a gun because I don't understand it; I'm frightful of a gun because it can kill me and the odds of it killing me are greatly increased if the person holding it cannot see me if I get too far away or if I'm out of earshot or in a noisy place.

I'm sure you are capable of many more things than I (and most people) would assume of a stereotypical blind person - I'm all for empowerment, but not at the expense of others, and at the expense of logic and common sense.

1. How much vision does one need to shoot a hand
gun?
2. Does each person have the abillity to determine
what is safe for them?
3. Most real handgun instructers train one to line up the sights while the target may blure slightly. Many FBI and other trainers suggest closing one eye..... So doesn't this mean that we are all alittle impaired while firing a gun?
4. Most handgun encounters happen at around TEN
Feet.
My overall point is just because someone has a disability we shouldn't limit them from carrying. Are persons with disabilities who have good cognitive ability able to determine their ability to use a handgun. If then they can pass the class they have the right to carry and defend themselves. So don't suppose that just because someone has a disability that they are not able to think and reason.....

Brian -

1. Are you serious?
2. No
3. A little impaired (not that I agree with you) and a lot impaired are a lot different. Try driving your car with one eye shut. Now try closing both eyes. Don't sue me when you hit something.
4. Just because most encounters happen at ten feet doesn't mean that the person knows what they're shooting at or what's behind them. The bullet doesn't just STOP at 10 feet - it continues to travel well beyond.

I didn't say that they can't think or reason, I merely say that they shouldn't be shooting a handgun in anything other than a very controlled environment (like a range).

Hello, I am new to this site but have been reading the post on legally blind persons carrying a handgun. I would just like to throw in here by saying there are apparently alot of people who hear the word blind and assume nothing can be seen by the supposed blind person. This is a common misunderstanding. There are in fact several levels of blindness. Some people who are considered legally blind do see as far as someone with 20/20 vision. Granted the further away the blurrier, but if you are talking about defending yourself with a handgun, most concealed weapons are for short distance anyway. A person with 20/400 vision could certainly tell the difference between a person intending to do them harm and the neighbors daughter at pretty much any distance. I guess some people are just prejudice against handicapped people. Lets face it if a legally blind person was at the same restaurant, ball game, dinner showetc. as you and your family and had a permit to carry and was able to stop a would be child abductor from taking your daughter, would you then have the sme objection....I mean since he is legally blind and all?????