SJG

My opinion is in the last paragraph

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Here's some news that has law enforcement officials and lawmakers scratching their heads: Iowa is granting permits to acquire or carry guns in public to people who are legally or completely blind. No one questions the legality of the permits. State law does not allow sheriffs to deny an Iowan the right to carry a weapon based on physical ability. The quandary centers squarely on public safety. Advocates for the disabled and Iowa law enforcement officers disagree over whether it's a good idea for visually disabled Iowans to have weapons. On one side: People such as Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington, who demonstrated for The Des Moines Register how blind people can be taught to shoot guns. And Jane Hudson, executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, who says blocking visually impaired people from the right to obtain weapon permits would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. That federal law generally prohibits different treatment based on disabilities On the other side: People such as Dubuque County Sheriff Don Vrotsos, who said he wouldn't issue a permit to someone who is blind. And Patrick Clancy, superintendent of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, who says guns may be a rare exception to his philosophy that blind people can participate fully in life. Private gun ownership — even hunting — by visually impaired Iowans is nothing new. But the practice of visually impaired residents legally carrying firearms in public became widely possible thanks to gun permit changes that took effect in Iowa in 2011. "It seems a little strange, but the way the law reads we can't deny them (a permit) just based on that one thing," said Sgt. Jana Abens, a spokeswoman for the Polk County Sheriff's Department, referring to a visual disability. Polk County officials say they've issued weapons permits to at least three people who can't legally drive and were unable to read the application forms or had difficulty doing so because of visual impairments. And sheriffs in three other counties — Jasper, Kossuth and Delaware — say they have granted permits to residents who they believe have severe visual impairments. "I'm not an expert in vision," Delaware County 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." Training the visually impaired In one Iowa county, blind residents who want weapons would likely receive special training. Wethington, the Cedar County sheriff, has a legally blind daughter who plans to obtain a permit to carry when she turns 21 in about two years. He demonstrated for the Register how he would train blind people who want to carry a gun. "If sheriffs spent more time trying to keep guns out of criminals' hands and not people with disabilities, their time would be more productive," Wethington said as he and his daughter took turns practice shooting with a semi-automatic handgun on private property in rural Cedar County. The number of visually impaired or blind Iowans who can legally carry weapons in public is unknown because that information is not collected by the state or county sheriffs who issue the permits. Clancy, superintendent of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, said the range of sight among people who are classified as legally blind varies greatly. He believes there are situations where such applicants can safely handle a gun. Quentin DeVore, a legally blind Army veteran from Newton, Iowa photographed in March 2013, is a gun enthusiast and collector. Despite his vision impairment, DeVore holds a permit to carry a firearm, and says he is well within his legal rights to do so.(Photo: Bryon Houlgrave, The Des Moines Register) However, he also expressed concerns. "Although people who are blind can participate fully in nearly all life's experiences, there are some things like the operation of a weapon that may very well be an exception," Clancy said. The Gun Control Act of 1968 and other federal laws do not prohibit blind people from owning guns. But unlike Iowa, some states have laws that spell out whether visually impaired people can obtain weapon permits. Vision requirements are either directly or indirectly part of the weapon permit criteria in some surrounding states. In Nebraska, for example, applicants for a permit to carry a concealed handgun must provide "proof of vision" by either presenting a valid state driver's license or a statement by an eye doctor that the person meets vision requirements set for a typical vehicle operator's license. Other states have indirect requirements that could — but don't automatically — disqualify people who are blind. That includes Missouri and Minnesota, where applicants must complete a live fire test, which means they have to shoot and hit a target. A 50-state database of gun permit requirements published by USACarry.com also shows that South Carolina has a law that requires proof of vision before a person is approved for a weapons permit. Wisconsin, like Iowa, has no visual restrictions on gun permit applicants. Illinois lawmakers enacted a concealed weapons law in July but permits have not yet been issued. Illinois' qualifications don't specifically require a visual test, but applicants must complete firearms training that includes range instruction. The National Federation of the Blind does not track states that require vision tests as part of weapon permit processes and has not taken an official stand on the issue. But its members are generally opposed to such laws, said Chris Danielsen, director of public relations for the group. "There's no reason solely on the (basis) of blindness that a blind person shouldn't be allowed to carry a weapon," Danielsen said. "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." Iowa requires training for anyone who is issued a permit to carry a weapon in public, but that requirement can be satisfied through an online course that does not include any hands-on instruction or a shooting test. A provision in Iowa's law allows sheriffs to deny a permit if probable cause exists to believe that the person is likely to use the weapon in such a way that it would endanger themselves or others. Many sheriffs noted, however, that the provision relates to specific documented actions, and applicants who appealed their cases would likely win. Hudson, executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, believes changing the state law to deny blind people or others with physical disabilities the right to carry arms would violate federal disabilities law. Part of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires a public entity to conduct an individualized analysis to make a reasonable judgment before denying a service. Hudson believes someone could successfully challenge Nebraska's proof of vision requirement as illegal. "The fact that you can't drive a car doesn't mean you can't go to a shooting range and see a target," Hudson said. My comment: it is amazing to me that a blind person might be in a better position, than a sighted one, as they can argue they have a right to a carry permit under the ADA and the Second Amendment

people who camp out do not sleep with weapons? The park is his home, not the bench

Don't people who camp out, hunt or fish and carry face the same problem? Why is the situation any different?

Why does he have to secure the gun on the park bench? If he has a right to carry it, he can carry it on his person 24/7. He still has a fourth amendment right against illegal searches of his person. Therefore he should be able to "secure" the gun on his person. If he lived in a house, he could walk around the house 24/7 and carry it, right? There is no requirement that to be able to keep it in your home, you have to practice. Anyway, he claims to be a veteran and put his life on the line for our country, isn't that enough? Lots of these homeless people end up as crime victims because they are on the street and vulnerable, he probably has a greater need to carry then the average person. I am not aware of any requirement that says that in order to own or carry a gun, you have to have money to buy ammo. Maybe he already has some ammo.

I agree that it is not his status of being homeless that is important, what is important is that there is no restriction on what place you can make and declare your home to be. If he lives in the park in NJ and votes in NJ then he is a NJ resident. If he is a NJ resident, that means he is residing someplace-- If he has made his home in the park,and resides in the park then that is his home The statute does not restrict the place you declare to be your home. If he lives in the park and that is his home then he should be able to carry his gun in that park. Isn't the Second Amendment a personal right that now applies to all persons, other than minors, criminals and insane people and is not contingent on a person owning or leasing a fixed structure which is a home? Clearly, he cannot carry outside the park without a carry permit in NJ.

He does not have a criminal record. In fact, he is a vet who was honorably discharged from service and has fallen on very hard times.

NJ permits him to vote in elections and has determined that his home is the park Where does it say in the Second Amendment that your right is contingent on having a fixed home? Even if he want to give up the gun, he has to carry it to a place to do that, doesn't he? If he picks it up, he is carrying it, isn't he? If he is legally permitted to own the gun, which he is, because it was left to him in a will, he has to pick it up, right? Once he picks it up, isn't he carrying it on his person? In this circumstance, doesn't ownership give him the right to carry it in the park? Why can he only have it on the park bench? If he is going to use the public restroom in the park, shouldn't he be permitted to take it with him? Leaving on the park bench while he goes to the rest room does not seem like a good idea?

Why does he need a P2P he is not purchasing a gun? Why does he need a FID? he legally inherited the gun? There is nothing that says that you have to have an address or own a home to legally inherit a gun, right? If he lives in the park, and he is allowed to vote, isn't the park his home and isn't it legal to carry a gun in your home, without a carry permit?

He says he is allowed to own it because he legally inherited it and there is a record of that when his father's will was admitted to probate He says the State does not accept guns for "safekeeping" and that if he tries that, he will forfeit the gun He can't give the gun to a private person to hold, that would be an illegal transfer, right?

The park does not have an ordinance on the subject Parker says that the Second Amendment is the law of the land, and applies in every State

John Parker is a homeless man, who legally acquired a handgun as a result of an inheritance. He lives in a public park. Does he have a Second Amendment Right to Carry the handgun?

Sometimes, you can grab a new mk2 on gunbroker between 1100 to 1150 in an auction

If you can get it expunged in VA do that first before you apply in NJ

g.All weapons being transported under paragraph (2) of subsection b., subsection e., or paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection f. of this section shall be carried unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunkof the automobile in which it is being transported, and in the course of travel shall include only such deviations as are reasonably necessary under the circumstances. You can't do it, unless you can fit yourself under par 2 of sub b, sub e or par 1 or 3 of sub f. Take a look at the statute. Under you hypo you do not fit under any of these, unless the range is authorized to repair, and you leave for repair. It is a bad idea and you are just asking for trouble.

You can't carry a handgun to or from after you depart public transportation, without a carry permit, so the answer is no. I would have to think about the answer to your question regarding a rifle

How many have there been at Heritage?

The simplicity of the design is brilliant, as is the reliability, dependability and the availability of parts to customize it to your liking or do your own trigger job. While they are not "lookers" and will not win a beauty contest, you get incredible value for the money and can't go wrong with a glock.

Comes with everything you need, including instructions, although they are not the best, you can do the entire job in 10 minutes

Does the Catamount take Saiga mags? Does it take any aftermarket mags or only proprietary mags, and if so, how much are the extra mags?

Tried the new light and laser design for the weapon. Very solid. Excellent performance. No need to even use sights on the weapon with the integrated laser/light set up if you are shooting targets up to 30 feet

You need a consultation with a vet oncologist to make an informed decision about your options. There are a few in NJ. One is in Red Bank.

Tried the Rio, works great

holes the diameter of a penny? are you kidding?

Lots of aftermarket stuff for them. Easy to do your own trigger job, just by watching a few videos. Very reliable.