While it's perfectly understandable for people to sympathize with those whom are blind, how would we feel if such a person was our cab driver or pilot? For as much sympathy as we might have for them, I'm guessing that sympathy would transform into fear. How about if we saw a blind person carrying around a gun and even firing the weapon? While there's no chance a blind person would legally be permitted to operate an automobile or plane due to a required vision test, the state of Iowa has just granted blind people permits to acquire and carry guns in public. Yes, you read that correctly. If you couldn't read that, never fear, for if you live in Iowa, you'll be able to acquire and carry a firearm.
Supporters of the permits had some chuckle-worthy quotes for The Des Moines Register.
Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington, who has a blind daughter, said: "If sheriffs spent more time trying to keep guns out of criminals' hands and not people with disabilities, their time would be more productive."
Off-the-record, he likely said, "If sheriffs spent more time trying to keep drunks from driving and not blind people, their time would be more productive."
Chris Danielsen, director of public relations for the National Federation of the Blind, said this:
"There's no reason solely on the (basis) of blindness that a blind person shouldn't be allowed to carry a weapon. Presumably they're going to have enough sense not to use a weapon in a situation where they would endanger other people, just like we would expect other people to have that common sense."
I'd think it would be common sense for a person who can't see to not be carrying around a deadly weapon. As Delaware Sheriff John LeClere said, "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."
Die-hard gun rights advocates have gone so cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, Pat Robertson may even be saying, "Whoa... Now that sounds just a little bit too crazy."
To help outline just how crazy this idea is, here are a few made-up scenarios concocted by my only slightly crazy mind:
Situation: Firearms training
Instructor Mike Haveshrunken: "Ready?"
Blind people: "Yeah!"
Haveshrunken: "Aim!"
Blind people: "Where?"
Haveshunken: "I said aim!"
Blind people: "Where?"
Haveshrunken: "Whatever! Fire!"
Blind people: ::shoots::
::silence::
Blind person: "Mr. Haveshrunken? Are you there? Hello?"
Haveshrunken: "I didn't say shoot me, you dam* fools! What, are you all blind or something? Come over here and get me some help!"
Blind person: "Where are you?"
Haveshrunken: "Oh, God. I'm so screwed..."
Situation: Hunting with Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney: ::does a few shots of Whiskey:: "Alright, I'm ready. How about you?"
Jorge Pimpjuice: "I'm just about ready. I just need to find my gun."
Cheney: "Want me to find it for you? You being blind and all?"
Pimpjuice: "Aren't you drunk?"
Cheney: "Oh, I'm getting there, but I think I can manage to do this much."
Pimpjuice: "Then, yeah, sure."
::loud thumping noise::
Pimpjuice: "What was that?"
Cheney: "Oh, nothing. I just tripped over something. I'll be alright. Here you are." ::hands Jorge his gun::
Pimpjuice: "Okay, let's do this!"
::they head out to the woods::
Cheney: "Okay, I see some birds up there. I think that's what they are. There may only be one, but I see several."
Pimpjuice: "Why do I feel something near my face?"
Cheney: "Why do I feel something near my face?"
Pimpjuice: "I thought that's where the birds were."
Cheney: "Well, me too. On the count of three, let's fire." ::pause:: "1...2...3..."
::both men fire their guns::
Cheney: "Ow! Why'd you shoot me in the face?"
Pimpjuice: "I'm blind! Why'd you shoot me in the face?"
Cheney: "I thought you looked like a bird."
Pimpjuice: "What the hell were you drinking?"
Cheney: "I don't know. Whatever it was, it was pretty darn good. I smoked something too. Alright, well, we're going to have some trouble getting out of here without some help. Let me call my good friend Ted Nugent and he'll swing on by."
Pimpjuice: "Ted Nugent? Really? He'll help?"
Cheney: "Sure. He might get jealous upon seeing us and shoot himself in the face, but at least we'll have some more company."
Situation: Police chasing a murderer
Lieutenant Marcus Slaughter: "Come on, Sergeant! Follow me! Take your gun this time!"
Sergeant Michael Inosee: "Where are we?"
Slaughter: "Come on, Inosee! I know you're blind and all, but we're after a major killer here! Let's take this a little more seriously! Let your dog be your guide. He'll know to follow me."
Inosee: "Okay. Come on, Lucky. Let's go! Follow Mr. Slaughter!"
::they all begin running::
Slaughter: "Oh no! Sergeant - he's right behind you! Shoot him!"
Inosee: ::fires his gun, a woman makes a noise::
Slaughter: "Not directly behind you! You just shot Mrs. Spreadeagle! Looks like you won't be getting any for a while!"
Inosee: "Crap! Where is he?"
Slaughter: "He's going the other way! Let's get him!"
Inosee: "Oh no! Lucky got away!"
Slaughter: "I don't care! Keep running!"
Inosee: "Okay. By the way, sorry Mrs. Spreadeagle! I hope to see you again tonight."
Spreadeagle: "Oh, blow me!"
Inosee: "I thought that's what I was paying you for..."
Spreadeagle: ::flips him off::
Inosee: "Fine, don't say anything. Okay, lieutenant, I'm on my way!"
::runs into a light post, falls down, and Lieutenant Slaughter trips over him::
Slaughter: "Goddam*it, Sergeant! He's gotten away!"
Inosee: "Lucky? Yeah, I know. I hope he finds a good home and family."
Slaughter: "No, you idiot! The killer! This isn't looking good! This isn't looking good at all!"
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130908/NEWS/309080061/Iowa-grants-permits-for-blind-residents-to-carry-guns-in-public?Frontpage&gcheck=1
Supporters of the permits had some chuckle-worthy quotes for The Des Moines Register.
Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington, who has a blind daughter, said: "If sheriffs spent more time trying to keep guns out of criminals' hands and not people with disabilities, their time would be more productive."
Off-the-record, he likely said, "If sheriffs spent more time trying to keep drunks from driving and not blind people, their time would be more productive."
Chris Danielsen, director of public relations for the National Federation of the Blind, said this:
"There's no reason solely on the (basis) of blindness that a blind person shouldn't be allowed to carry a weapon. Presumably they're going to have enough sense not to use a weapon in a situation where they would endanger other people, just like we would expect other people to have that common sense."
I'd think it would be common sense for a person who can't see to not be carrying around a deadly weapon. As Delaware Sheriff John LeClere said, "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."
Die-hard gun rights advocates have gone so cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, Pat Robertson may even be saying, "Whoa... Now that sounds just a little bit too crazy."
To help outline just how crazy this idea is, here are a few made-up scenarios concocted by my only slightly crazy mind:
Situation: Firearms training
Instructor Mike Haveshrunken: "Ready?"
Blind people: "Yeah!"
Haveshrunken: "Aim!"
Blind people: "Where?"
Haveshunken: "I said aim!"
Blind people: "Where?"
Haveshrunken: "Whatever! Fire!"
Blind people: ::shoots::
::silence::
Blind person: "Mr. Haveshrunken? Are you there? Hello?"
Haveshrunken: "I didn't say shoot me, you dam* fools! What, are you all blind or something? Come over here and get me some help!"
Blind person: "Where are you?"
Haveshrunken: "Oh, God. I'm so screwed..."
Situation: Hunting with Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney: ::does a few shots of Whiskey:: "Alright, I'm ready. How about you?"
Jorge Pimpjuice: "I'm just about ready. I just need to find my gun."
Cheney: "Want me to find it for you? You being blind and all?"
Pimpjuice: "Aren't you drunk?"
Cheney: "Oh, I'm getting there, but I think I can manage to do this much."
Pimpjuice: "Then, yeah, sure."
::loud thumping noise::
Pimpjuice: "What was that?"
Cheney: "Oh, nothing. I just tripped over something. I'll be alright. Here you are." ::hands Jorge his gun::
Pimpjuice: "Okay, let's do this!"
::they head out to the woods::
Cheney: "Okay, I see some birds up there. I think that's what they are. There may only be one, but I see several."
Pimpjuice: "Why do I feel something near my face?"
Cheney: "Why do I feel something near my face?"
Pimpjuice: "I thought that's where the birds were."
Cheney: "Well, me too. On the count of three, let's fire." ::pause:: "1...2...3..."
::both men fire their guns::
Cheney: "Ow! Why'd you shoot me in the face?"
Pimpjuice: "I'm blind! Why'd you shoot me in the face?"
Cheney: "I thought you looked like a bird."
Pimpjuice: "What the hell were you drinking?"
Cheney: "I don't know. Whatever it was, it was pretty darn good. I smoked something too. Alright, well, we're going to have some trouble getting out of here without some help. Let me call my good friend Ted Nugent and he'll swing on by."
Pimpjuice: "Ted Nugent? Really? He'll help?"
Cheney: "Sure. He might get jealous upon seeing us and shoot himself in the face, but at least we'll have some more company."
Situation: Police chasing a murderer
Lieutenant Marcus Slaughter: "Come on, Sergeant! Follow me! Take your gun this time!"
Sergeant Michael Inosee: "Where are we?"
Slaughter: "Come on, Inosee! I know you're blind and all, but we're after a major killer here! Let's take this a little more seriously! Let your dog be your guide. He'll know to follow me."
Inosee: "Okay. Come on, Lucky. Let's go! Follow Mr. Slaughter!"
::they all begin running::
Slaughter: "Oh no! Sergeant - he's right behind you! Shoot him!"
Inosee: ::fires his gun, a woman makes a noise::
Slaughter: "Not directly behind you! You just shot Mrs. Spreadeagle! Looks like you won't be getting any for a while!"
Inosee: "Crap! Where is he?"
Slaughter: "He's going the other way! Let's get him!"
Inosee: "Oh no! Lucky got away!"
Slaughter: "I don't care! Keep running!"
Inosee: "Okay. By the way, sorry Mrs. Spreadeagle! I hope to see you again tonight."
Spreadeagle: "Oh, blow me!"
Inosee: "I thought that's what I was paying you for..."
Spreadeagle: ::flips him off::
Inosee: "Fine, don't say anything. Okay, lieutenant, I'm on my way!"
::runs into a light post, falls down, and Lieutenant Slaughter trips over him::
Slaughter: "Goddam*it, Sergeant! He's gotten away!"
Inosee: "Lucky? Yeah, I know. I hope he finds a good home and family."
Slaughter: "No, you idiot! The killer! This isn't looking good! This isn't looking good at all!"
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130908/NEWS/309080061/Iowa-grants-permits-for-blind-residents-to-carry-guns-in-public?Frontpage&gcheck=1
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