Steven Hopler, Blind Gun Owner

[mikeb302000]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/26/nyregion/blind-new-jersey-man-challenged-again-on-guns.html?_r=1">The New York Times reports on the latest kerfuffle concerning Steven Hopler, the blind New Jersey gun owner. http://mikeb302000.blogspot.com/2010/01/blind-man-shoots-brother-by-accident.html">Of course he's not the only blind gun owner who's made the news.

http://mikeb302000.blogspot.com/2010/06/blind-gun-owner.html">When Hopler shot himself in the leg last year, I declared that I'm opposed to blind folks owning guns. That was met with the usual blowback from the gun crowd. But, I remain unconvinced.

Mr. Hopler, 49, who lives on a winding road here, is once again fighting for his right to keep and bear arms despite having been totally blind for most of his adult life. He has repeatedly persuaded judges to let him keep his collection of more than a dozen handguns, but doing so has been more complicated since 2008, when he was handling a .357 Magnum he owned and shot himself in the shin.

Not only did he shoot himself, http://mikeb302000.blogspot.com/2010/08/one-strike-youre-out.html">which for me is an automatic disqualifier, but while he was in the hospital from that stupidity, burglars entered his house and took some guns, one of which was used in a suicide. You see, having the right to own guns for Hopler and many like him, means leaving them lying around the house is perfectly acceptable. "they found one loaded pistol in an oven mitt and another gun tucked under a sofa cushion."

Then, there's the question of his drinking. Once, he was even arrested for being disorderly in a bar, another disqualifier for me.

The reason he's in the news again is that the Morris County prosecutor’s office is trying to have Mr. Hopler’s gun permits revoked.

What's your opinion? Isn't it odd that in New Jersey where gun control is strong there's no provision for an eye examination prior to issuing a gun permit? Shouldn't that be one of the main qualifiers?

If I understood correctly, in Hopler's case we're talking about gun permits to own guns in the home, not concealed carry. That means in other states more lenient than New Jersey, blind folks or people otherwise handicapped in such a way as to make safe gun handling impossible can own guns all they want.

That's wrong and something should be done about it. Kudos to the Morris County Porsecutor who decided to pursue this case. Good luck.

Please leave a comment.
http://mikeb302000.blogspot.com/">(cross posted at Miken302000)

[AtheistCrusader]

1. I know, lets test people to see if they can read before they vote!

Sick of your stupid posts.

Arrested for disorderly conduct, or convicted? Since you only presented the claim he was arrested, I say no, not a disqualifier. Even if convicted, not a felony disqualification.

And are you really bitching about him being the victim of a crime? That's awesome.

[Skittles]

2. oh, you mean he is LITERALLY blind

:rofl:

[ileus]

3. guns shoot blind people...

[DrDan]

4. we havfe several here who believe in NO restrictions on gun ownership

guess that would include the blind

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

6. "Several" people... really?

Could you list those people or link to them?

I have only ever seen one person with that viewpoint - and even then I think the guy was just trolling (although he indicated he was serious).

[DrDan]

7. yes really. Here is the link - at least 5 here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x476795

[friendly_iconoclast]

12. Along with 16 who think the "terraist blacklists" are a good idea...

And how do you feel about them, Doctor?

[DrDan]

13. has nothing to do with the point I was making, now was it. But you knew that.

[mikeb302000]

15. Yeah, and that makes me a bastard who wishes harm

to the handicapped. The gun nuts are out of touch with reality.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

5. Don't be such a Hoplerphobe...

The instance of "blind gun owner" is so rare that this not even worth wasting time to discuss... let alone advocating legislation against it.

[mikeb302000]

16. I doubt if it's as rare as you pretend.

Even in one of the strictest states there's no eye test. Shouldn't that be a qualifier. People with really poor eyesight should not own firearms. How many of those do you think there are in Texas?

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

20. Just because a blind person can qualify to own/carry guns, doesn't mean that many blind people do.

A few do, sure... but I find it highly unbelievable that any significant number of blind people actively carry or participate in shooting activities.

And, not to dodge your question, No i don't think a big push to require eye exams is necessary.
We've gotten along relatively fine without them thus far. I don't think there's much ROI on such an effort. Time/money is better spent on legislation that will have a more fruitful impact on society.

[AtheistCrusader]

23. No, it should not be a 'qualifier'.

Hell, maybe they have no intention of ever firing one, and it's an investment vehicle.

How long have you been shitting all over blind people? Is this new?

[Hoyt]

8. I feel for the guy. But, more than anything it shows how irresponsible many gun owners really are.

[Paladin]

9. If You Support Guns For Blind People.....

...you're effectively advocating gun ownership and usage for everybody. It's that simple, and it's that loathsome.

"Always be sure of your target" used to be the very first lesson taught in gun safety courses. What you present-day gun militants are advocating is changing that hard-and-fast rule to "Point in the general direction of the last noise you heard, fire, and hope for the best." Just like the Founding Fathers intended, right? Yeah, right.....

[AtheistCrusader]

24. Gunfighting can be a contact sport.

Also, a firearm could simply have sentimental value, or investment value, and does not reflect an intent by the owner to ever fire the weapon.

[petronius]

10. I don't agree that the blind (or any other disabled persons) should automatically be discriminated

against. Rather, I prefer that all reasonable accommodations and adjustments be made so they can exercise all the rights, privileges, and liberties they're entitled to, and engage as fully as possible in whatever sports, occupations, or activities they find attractive.

In the case of actively shooting, it seems a blind person could do perfectly well on a range, with a sighted attendant and a sound-indicated target. As far as mere ownership of a firearm (or of just about any item, really) I don't see blindness or other disability to be a valid reason for a prohibition...

[mikeb302000]

17. it's not discrimination, it's failure to qualify. nt

[petronius]

18. A blind person is perfectly capable of safely owning a firearm, no different than a

car, airplane, house, scuba tank, bicycle, or anything else.

And, there are relatively simple adjustments and accommodations that can be made to enable a blind person to actively use a firearm.

So, automatically disqualifying a blind person from firearms ownership is an unjustifiable (and thus unacceptable) level of discrimination...

[We_Have_A_Problem]

21. You don't have to qualify to own a firearm.

But you knew that...

[Tuesday Afternoon]

22. uhm - -

yeah, but, keep reminding him -- he seems so forgetful of this point.

[AtheistCrusader]

25. Amounts to a de facto ban. Just like a poll tax.

Boggles my mind that a post like yours can survive long, even in the gungeon, on a progressive/democratic site.

It fucking violates civil rights. A blind person may be unable to obtain a drivers license, but they sure as fuck aren't banned from owning a car.

[BiggJawn]

11. So should somebody who can't see be allowed to own an aircraft?

I'm not blind, yet I don't have a license, and with my diabetes and other health issues, I probably couldn't get one.
Yet, if I had more money than I know what to do with it, and I got a hankering to buy and own some "Golden Age" aircraft, I shouldn't be allowed to because I can't fly?

Hopler has permits. Sighted people who accidentally shoot themselves don't automatically lose their firearms.

But aircraft ownership isn't such a hot button issue, is it?

[We_Have_A_Problem]

19. There probably ARE blind people who own aircraft.

I know there are blind people who own cars.

Don't confuse ownership with use and dont confuse the ownership of property with the exercise of a right.

Someone who is blind has just as much right to be armed as anyone else. One does not qualify for a right.

[Remmah2]

14. He's not as blind as some of the anti2A personalities. nt

nt

[krispos42]

26. I used to have a concealed-carry permit in South Dakota

At no point was I asked if I could see.



Of course, I suppose being able to read and fill out the form is a de facto eye test... but I don't believe there was anything keeping me from taking the form home to fill out, or having somebody pick it up for me.

[Atypical Liberal]

27. I'm sure there is a huge, huge problem with blind gun owners.

What's your opinion? Isn't it odd that in New Jersey where gun control is strong there's no provision for an eye examination prior to issuing a gun permit? Shouldn't that be one of the main qualifiers?

Just a guess, here, but my guess is that not many blind people own guns, and even less commit crimes with them.

I don't think "blind people with guns" ranks very high on the list of things to worry about.