[nfbmi-talk] i agree with this and more

[Christine Boone]

I whole-heartedly agree with Joe, and with Michael Barber, and with Bass Pro Shops too.  I am pleased to see that Iowa granted Michael his permit after he took the proper class.  This is as it should be.  

On Sep 8, 2013, at 11:16 AM, "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net> wrote:

> Folks long ago I sponsored a resolution from NFB MI on the equal rights of blind folks of all sorts to have and bare arms. I am as many know left of center in the political spectrum and some would think that I'm against folks having the right to bare arms ....I am not and certainly even if I was am a fervent believer in that which is afforded to sighted folks is also afforded to blind folks nonetheless.
> 
> This is a simple principle in law and equity.
> 
> Anyway enjoy this article.
> 
> Joe
> Blind man buying gun: 'Public has a misperception about blindness' . Written by Jason Clayworth . Michael Barber is completely blind. Last month he purchased
> 
> his first gun, and on Friday he picked up his permit to legally carry that gun in public. Why? Because he wants to. It's his right. It's perfectly within
> 
> the realm of possibility and within our rights that a blind person can safely carry a weapon if he or she decides they want to do that, Barber said. Barber,
> 
> an employee of the Iowa Department for the Blind, is also president of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa. He has taken a safety course and soon
> 
> plans to participate in practice shooting at a range. Barber and his wife, Kim, allowed the Register to accompany them as they purchased his first handgun
> 
> about three weeks ago at Bass Pro Shops in Altoona. When you shoot a gun, you take it out and point and shoot, and I don't necessarily think eyesight is
> 
> necessary, Barber said. If someone is attacking me, I'm going to be able to hear what they're doing, and if I need to use the weapon, I'll use the weapon.
> 
> Part of the desire to purchase and legally carry the gun in public is the challenge, he acknowledged. For me, the inspiration is just to see if I run into
> 
> any difficulties,Barber said in March, before purchasing his gun.I want to see if I will be permitted to obtain the permit to carry as a blind person.
> 
> If I'm not, I'll challenge it. Polk County doesn't deny permits because of visual impairment, Sgt. Jana Abens said. Barber obtained a training certificate,
> 
> and his background check didn't come back with any reasons for the Polk County sheriff to deny the permit. When Barber purchased a gun at Bass Pro Shops
> 
> on Aug. 15, it was the first time a blind person had purchased a handgun there, as far as operations manager Todd Godfrey could determine. The store's
> 
> clerks gave Michael Barber no static about his inability to see, and assisted him in obtaining two shoppers in the store to serve as the required witnesses
> 
> to his signature on paperwork required under federal law before purchasing the handgun. I think it's pretty cool. Everyone has Second Amendment rights,
> 
> and we thought that whatever we can do to accommodate him, we'll do our best, Godfrey said. Courtney Rinner and her boyfriend, Mason Ouderkirk of Indianola,
> 
> were the witnesses to the gun purchase. They watched intently as Barber, with his cane at his side, answered questions and was guided by his wife to sign
> 
> the necessary paperwork. My main thought was: 'I'd like to help him out. If I were in that position, I'd want someone to help me out, too, Ouderkirk said.
> 
> As for Barber, he said he knows people may read this article and conclude that blind people have no business carrying weapons. But he hopes that at least
> 
> some readers will stop and think a bit before reaching conclusions. The sighted public has a misperception about blindness that if you're blind, you can't
> 
> do this or that, Barber said. They don't stop to think that with proper training and with opportunity, you can. . 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nfbmi-talk mailing list
> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nfbmi-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/christineboone2%40gmail.com