Category: Let's talk
So,I guarantee this isn't a topic that the NFB would dare touch. However, I know it is legal in some states-- for example, Iowa, to own a gun as a totally blind person and also have a concealed carry permit. So, basically I am wondering if it is legal in every state? How would one find out?
Thanks.
Cody/silver lightening is a gun owner with a permit.
He'd be a good source to chat with.
I own a couple of guns, but it never occurred to me that I could get a permit to carry. If Cody wouldn't consider letting a blind person give him a shot, I don't see how he can defend a blind person carrying a gun.
Well I'd say when you give them a shot you intend harm.
Laughing.
Possibly google the terms "concealed carry laws" and the name of your state. You should be able to read about the laws online, or find contact info for the agency that oversees such permits in your state. I'm wondering though, if you're not sure where to learn about this, how much training do you have with guns in general? If you don't have it, maybe you should get that before even looking into carrying a concealed weapon on your person.
As an aside, I'm confused by your statement about the NFB not touching such a topic. In Iowa, the State NFB President at the time was one of the people who was most involved in the laws that allow totally blind people to own and carry guns.
I know someone who is totally blind, and carries a gun permit. I don't think he has a weapon on him, right now, but he was blinded by bullets. Despite that, he reapplies, every time it's time to, and passes. And, he knows how to use a weapon.
I've had a chance to use weapons, in wilderness, but, I won't own one, because I have no trust in my temper. I know I can get really irritated, and don't wish to take that chance. I will, however, support anyone who wishes to jhave a concealed permit, who is in any way, impaired by vision loss.
I also know someone in Washington state, who is on the fish and wildlife committee. He goes to the meetings with his dog guide. That's 2 people I know in this state. Bet big bucks, there's more. If, I had bucks to place on the table. I'd win, anyway. (Laughing)
I just didn't think that the NFB would actually invest in such a topic is all. Usually, most concealed classes instruct you on gun safety and the use of a weapon I believe.
call your local police department, they should be able to tell you.
In my state, anyone over 21 who isn't otherwise prohibited because of a felony conviction, history of domestic violence, or mental illness may carry a firearm without a concealed weapons permit.
Question? Why are you interested? Do you want to own or carry a gun?
I'm not interested in owning one myself, but I wonder what counts as a disqualifying mental illness.
I've wondered that myself. The law here doesn't get any more specific than that.
correction. I reread the code and it prohibits persons who have been adjudicated mentally incompetent or involuntarily committed to a mental institutionunless the person produces a court order reflecting that they are no longer disabled.
I have a sort of related question, which may as well be asked here.
Okay...so I'm not huge on the whole carrying-a-gun thing, but that's not my point. But what reason do people have to carry concealed? If you're gonna carry the damn thing, why hide it? What good reason is there to carry concealed, vs. in some sort of visible or semi-visible holster? There must be something I'm missing here, because in my mind at least, surely the ability to carry the weapon is enough, and carrying it visiblly would probably put people off even more than if they couldn't see it on approach.
I think that openly displaying the weapon could be considered a threat by some people. that and, think about what the average person might think if their children were walking with them merrily down a street, and someone openly carrying a gun passed by them. That's personally, not something I'd want to subject my child to. So, I'm a fan of keeping it concealed. I'm sure that there are other reasons for it, but those are the two that occurred to me. I suppose they could be entirely wrong, but that's what I think.
It depends on state or county ordinances whether a firearm can be carried openly or not. In Arizona, where I live, you can carry guns openly in most places. I still think blindness should be a disqualifier though of carrying a gun, concealed or open, in public.
To Poster #14: effective last may, a permit was no longer required to carry a concealed firearm in my State. Prior to that, a person could openly carry a firearm.
During the debate over the change, the side favoring leaving the permit requirement argued the State benefited because while not perfect, the permit process helped ensure that the person carrying the firearm had received some training in the operation of the firearm. Those who wanted to abolish the permit required argued that the cost disqualified some from being able to protect themselves and their families.
To Poster #15: Prior to last May, open carrying was legal in my State and had been for as long as I can remember. I lost my sight in 2003 and before that, I have to say that it was extremely rare to see someone strapped in public. On the rare occurances that I did, it didn’t appear to upset anyone. Obviously, I can’t read minds but I can’t recall anyone making a big deal out of it.
May be it was more common to see someone openly carrying a gun in more rural parts of the State, but I can’t say for sure.
its fine for a blind person to own a gun, as long as he or she can be safe with it. Someone blind and with hearing loss to the point where hearing aids are used, a totally different story. You may want to think about that Nathan.
Good point. I guess it comes down to personal choice. It's lawful for me to but I've chosen not too.
I never gave much thought to a blind person owning a firearm. I think it's great that we can excercise that right though I don't personally own one.
It wasn't a big deal for folks to carry guns openly.
It steal isn't many places.
Folks have gun racks and such in trucks and they hold guns.
A person strapped isn't a threat I'd say either and a child wouldn't care less if it was showing.
I think most of the concealed thing comes down to dress. If you're not dressed western and gun and hoster messes up your outfit.
If you have it for protection, shown, or not doesn't really matter.
If a person is overly scared or nervous, they shouldn't carry at all. You pull a gun when it is absolutely necessary, not when you think you are under threat.
I tend to agree, a gun is not a good item to be carried by a blind person. You can't really get a good aim at your target, and that needs to be done at a distance, not when they are on you no matter how good you hear.
A robber isn't going to stand steal until you hear where they are, and if they know you can't see, they'd be stupid to get shot by you.
Even trained seeing persons have a difficult time hitting the target when it is moving, so go figure.
A blind person should only own one as sport, or for target practice.
I think it actually be more of a problem then a help if you are attacked.
Specially if attacked by more then one person.
I'd just get quiet, wait for you to walk past, then take it from you.
A group would simply have one talking to you while he or she moves about or stands behind something while the rest sneak up and take it.
Laughing.
I've even known seeing people to have them simply taken away.
Now inside your home, that be okay, because nobody should be breaking in, but outside on you for protection just seems a bad idea. A good knife, or a bat would be the better weapon.
We had this debate someplace on these boards about it.
I do not own a gun for all the reasons that Wayne pointed out. I think that it would present more problems for me as a blind person than it would solve.
Yes, I own two guns, one is a .22 rifle I have used at the shooting range. The other is a Ruger LCP 380-- a very compact pistol. I see no issue carrying a gun if you are blind, as long as you know a little gun safety, first. If you were attacked, yes, maybe you would have it taken from you. What about if you had some pepper spray or a taser though? You don't have to be able to see to use a taser really. That is a different topic altogether. In Virginia, as far as I can tell, there aren't any laws prohibiting visually impaired persons from carrying a gun. Also, I'd think it would be rather simple to invent some sort of vibration system so that a blind person could shoot a gun independently. I can't here very well and this is true. Perhaps they have a security system outfitted with some sort of crazy gun type thing, lol.
I'd actually be more frightened if I had a child out in public and anyone I walked past on the street might have a gun I didn't know about. That would creep me out far more than actually seeing the damn thing. But that's me.
Thanks for the responses, folks. I was just curious.
It wasn't a rhetorical or snarky question, it was an honest one. Certain things I just...don't understand.
I'm with Maddog on why carrying concealed might be a good idea. I'm in favor of blind people owning or carrying, with the same feeling about it that I have for sighted people doing so. You better be trained in proper, safe use and handling of any weapon you have, gun or otherwise. If you're not, it's liable to injure you or someone else, or be taken from you and used against you. Someone choosing to own or carry a weapon, blind or sighted, had also better be as mentally and emotionally prepared as possible to use it, if the time comes. Again, if you're not, it's probably going to be used on you by someone who is prepared to do so. If you're not willing and/or able to use it, don't have it, end of story. I personally would not be comfortable owning a gun as a blind person. I wouldnt' trust myself to be as accurate a shot as I'd want to be if I ever needed to use it. If I were sighted, I'd likely have one. That's just me and my own comfort level, though. If a blind person has both proficiency and comfort with a weapon, more power to them.
If I could see as I once did, I'd own one.
Maybe several.
Not only for protection, but target shooting, that kind of thing.
I'd do more hiking in the woods and off road alone, so a gun would be handy.
Not for people, but snakes, bears, or whatever.
In the city I'm not sure if I'd carry it around all the time though.
Blind, I can't really enjoy it.
Pepper spray would be better and learning some hand to hand training if you feel threatened.
Even if the pepper spray is taken, it won't kill you.
All good points above. I would only add that in the event the weapon is discharged, intentionally or accidently, inside you home or out; you are responsible for every round that leaves that weapon. Expect to spend some time with police whether it's because of property damage or even worse personal injury. Do your homework get as much training as you can. II don't know for sure but the NRA might be a resource. I'm thinking they might have a program for blind gun owners. Just one mans opinion.
Totally agree.
I have a shot gun in my house that I purchased localy at a shop down the street, and I keep bird shot near by. Bird shot has a very wide spread, and isn't hard enough or moving fast enough to go through the types of walls my building has. But if you get hit with bird shot, it won't kill you but it will hurt quite a bit. My family and others who know about it don't have an issue with it because I was trained on how to be safe, and I have enough sight to hit a target in a space as small as my apartment because of the location of the front door. Sorry, if someone climbs the side of a building to get to my balcony doors, they want what ever is in my house mor than I do. I wouldn't even stop them. I would load up his or her van for them if they wanted my stuff that bad, lol now I am rambling.
I live in a no carry state personally.
I'm for most blind folks carrying, if they know how to use it. When I could hear better, I was a great shot! However, Bipolar gets in the way. I know my limits, and my temper. If not for that, I'd carry. If I felt I could act responsibly with a 38, I'd have one. It's my emotions, and imbalances, that make me say "No."
People are known, at least some of them, not to give your disability a second thought, unless it's:
"Hey, he/she's blind too? Easy target!"
That doesn't comfort me. However, I will chose something defensive, that's going to kill people. With my record of mental health issues, I'd be turned down, in a New York minute!
I'm all for all of you who carry. If you can locate the target, you can defend yourself. I've witnessed what guns can do.
I also love the birdshot, idea. I don't like killing. But if someone knows it's gonna hurt a little, well, they shouldn't hurt people anyway. Kind of obvious, unless you are a criminal. (Laughing)
Blessings In Christ,
Sarah
my boyfriend is mostly deaf as well, carries concealed and has his permit. He is a good shooter and was raised from early on how to use a gun properly and safely.
I would not carry a weapon because i' a chicken. it can be used by me bbut also on me. all that aside, it's great if people want or need to use weapons.
Where I live, I wish and pray to God, for a Tazor. You think I'm nuts, till someone comes banging your door down, and there's a sex offender living in the same complex as me. Now, I know folks can change. Even after what I have been through, I'd trust someone who'd done something, if I knew the circumstances. Such as developmental issues.
But, I don't know this person, and had too many problems in here, not to wish for a Tazor.
Blessings,
Sarah
Jodeci, I'm not saying your boyfriend shouldn't have a gun, so please don't mistake me. But I'm going to be like the sighted people who ask us stupid questions because they truly don't know how we do things. If your BF had to shoot at a moving target, God forbid, a person, how would he know what he was aiming at if he can't hear them? Again, not saying he can't use a weapon safely, I'm genuinely curious. It's just an alternative technique I don't know anything about.
Even if he could hear them, how would he get a moving target?
Again, even seeing trained folks had trouble and practice all the time. You have to adjust the aim until you are ready to fire.
That be difficult even if you had good hearing.
I'd think, and anyone can correct me if I'm wrong, a blind person, or deaf blind person would only use the gun if the target was attacking them and on them sort of.
The target is right there.
They might also use it as a warning to keep away.
It's in my pants!
I've said this before on some board, but I'll say it again, this idea of a blind
person pulling out a gun and shooting someone twenty feet away while they're
running is idiotic. At that point, if you did that, you would be going to jail,
because their lawyer, or their family;s lawyer, will say that you fired wrecklessly
on someone who did not pose a direct threat to you. Even sighted people don't
do this. Twenty-one feet is the norm for target pratice, but three feet is the
average for gun related encounters, and that's an average, which means there
were lower distances. Hell I know blind people who carry blanks in a revolver,
because the expanding gases will do as much damage as a bullet when its
pressed against someone's body, and they don't have to worry about hitting
someone standing behind them. Accuracy is not a thing used by self-defense
shooters. its something used by cops and navy seals. Its not something used
when you're being raped or attacked.
Thank you for that.
The problem is, do all blind person that carry have sense?
When you get the licenses, does someone say, you know, it be a good idea if you'd not try to shoot your target unless they are near enough to touch?
The seeing can shot 20 feet and hit if they are good, but blind, nope.
And before I get jumped, I don't say blind people should have specil licensing agreements, but I do think it is a good idea for someone to at least have that chat.
Ah, that's a good question. I don't think he really truly cares about actually hitting the target. It's just a scare tactic. He's not completely deaf, he still has hearing. Now if he didn't have those hearing aids on, definitely not will he hear them coming. I don't think a lot of blind people should have guns, not because they are blind, but because so many are either sheltered or have multiple disabilities and might not have the sense.
Poster 38 is 100 per cent correct. The majority of street encounters occur in extremely close quarters. I don't carry a weapon outside my home. In my particular case, my principle concern is some miscreant trying to push their wway into my house, so any encounter would be in extremely close quarters.