[nfbmi-talk] i agree with this and more

[Christine Boone]

Only if there is a complete and total changing of the guard, not just in the directorship of the BSBP, but in LARA as well.  And what a great day that would be, because the reestablishment of the safety program at the TC would be just one of so very many changes that would restore dignity, enlightenment, progress, possibility, success, staff morale, appreciation for innovation, and so much hope for a brighter future for Michiganders who are blind! 

On Sep 8, 2013, at 4:49 PM, "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net> wrote:

> Say do you think we might have the safety program re-established at the TC someday?
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christine Boone" <christineboone2 at gmail.com>
> To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2013 3:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] i agree with this and more
> 
> 
>> 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. .
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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