why does this guy and his comments set my teeth on edge? Is it because I'm not comfortable with a blind person carrying? Or that I'm not comfortable with how I think the anti's will see this? :banghead:
I know my head is not on straight, but can somebody help me with this one specific issue? Pleeeeeease?
stay safe.
skidmark
http://news.findlaw.com
Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Change to N.D. Gun Exam Opposed
By JAMES WARDEN Associated Press Writer
(AP) - BISMARCK, N.D.-Carey McWilliams carries a pistol, but he can't see it or whatever - or whomever - he might shoot at. Still, he comes armed with the full blessing of North Dakota.
It wasn't easy to get to that point, though.
McWilliams, 31, blind since age 10, had to pass a two-part exam to obtain his concealed weapon permit. First, he had to ace an open-book test of 10 true-or-false questions. Then, he had to prove his shooting proficiency by hitting an 18-by-20-inch human silhouette at least seven of 10 times, from 21 feet away.
Now, North Dakota lawmakers are considering getting rid of the exam or at least the shooting part - and McWilliams doesn't think that's right.
"I don't think everybody under the sun should be able to just walk in and get a weapon," said McWilliams, of Fargo. "You've got to have standards."
In January, the state House approved legislation to remove both the written and shooting tests. Some representatives argued that the tests are meaningless, and some even pointed at McWilliams to support their position.
And on Monday, the Senate voted to remove the shooting test, arguing that other states would not honor North Dakota's permits without some kind of exam. According to the North Dakota attorney general's Web site, the state's concealed weapon permits are honored in 18 other states.
The legislation now goes back to the House for final approval.
Republican state Rep. Todd Porter doesn't believe residents should not have restrictions put on their right to carry a weapon.
"I just think there's too many hoops for a law-abiding citizen to jump through to get a concealed weapon," said Porter, who sponsored the House bill.
But McWilliams counters that no testing could allow people who are ignorant about firearm regulations to get permits.
Porter and his supporters, however, point to McWilliams as an example of the uselessness of testing requirements.
McWilliams, who can distinguish only different shades of light, hit his target only six of 10 times - one short of the minimum needed to pass - on his first try at the shooting part of the test. On his second attempt, however, he hit the target all 10 times.
"I shook a couple people up (when I got my permit), but all I did was exercise my right as an American citizen," said McWilliams, who owns four pistols and carries one regularly. "When you're blind, you can't run from an assailant."
Since McWilliams received his permit, he has been a frequently cited example in the national gun debate. He has been mentioned in news stories around the world, and filmmaker Michael Moore showed a brief clip of McWilliams cradling an assault rifle in his antigun movie, "Bowling for Columbine."
Like McWilliams, Republican state Rep. Don Dietrich opposes removing the written test, saying it requires applicants to become familiar with state laws about where weapons can and cannot be taken.
The test makes sure people know that weapons are not allowed in bars, gambling sites or at public gatherings, including church and sporting events, Dietrich said.
The test also includes questions about the legal use of deadly force and the definition of "concealed."
"Almost everyone who comes in, they have no idea" about the state's laws, Dietrich said. "The idea is to at least have the applicants familiarize themselves with the laws of North Dakota."
2005-03-09T09:21:53Z
Copyright 2005
The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company | Privacy Policy Disclaimer Copyright © 1994-2004FindLaw
I know my head is not on straight, but can somebody help me with this one specific issue? Pleeeeeease?
stay safe.
skidmark
http://news.findlaw.com
Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Change to N.D. Gun Exam Opposed
By JAMES WARDEN Associated Press Writer
(AP) - BISMARCK, N.D.-Carey McWilliams carries a pistol, but he can't see it or whatever - or whomever - he might shoot at. Still, he comes armed with the full blessing of North Dakota.
It wasn't easy to get to that point, though.
McWilliams, 31, blind since age 10, had to pass a two-part exam to obtain his concealed weapon permit. First, he had to ace an open-book test of 10 true-or-false questions. Then, he had to prove his shooting proficiency by hitting an 18-by-20-inch human silhouette at least seven of 10 times, from 21 feet away.
Now, North Dakota lawmakers are considering getting rid of the exam or at least the shooting part - and McWilliams doesn't think that's right.
"I don't think everybody under the sun should be able to just walk in and get a weapon," said McWilliams, of Fargo. "You've got to have standards."
In January, the state House approved legislation to remove both the written and shooting tests. Some representatives argued that the tests are meaningless, and some even pointed at McWilliams to support their position.
And on Monday, the Senate voted to remove the shooting test, arguing that other states would not honor North Dakota's permits without some kind of exam. According to the North Dakota attorney general's Web site, the state's concealed weapon permits are honored in 18 other states.
The legislation now goes back to the House for final approval.
Republican state Rep. Todd Porter doesn't believe residents should not have restrictions put on their right to carry a weapon.
"I just think there's too many hoops for a law-abiding citizen to jump through to get a concealed weapon," said Porter, who sponsored the House bill.
But McWilliams counters that no testing could allow people who are ignorant about firearm regulations to get permits.
Porter and his supporters, however, point to McWilliams as an example of the uselessness of testing requirements.
McWilliams, who can distinguish only different shades of light, hit his target only six of 10 times - one short of the minimum needed to pass - on his first try at the shooting part of the test. On his second attempt, however, he hit the target all 10 times.
"I shook a couple people up (when I got my permit), but all I did was exercise my right as an American citizen," said McWilliams, who owns four pistols and carries one regularly. "When you're blind, you can't run from an assailant."
Since McWilliams received his permit, he has been a frequently cited example in the national gun debate. He has been mentioned in news stories around the world, and filmmaker Michael Moore showed a brief clip of McWilliams cradling an assault rifle in his antigun movie, "Bowling for Columbine."
Like McWilliams, Republican state Rep. Don Dietrich opposes removing the written test, saying it requires applicants to become familiar with state laws about where weapons can and cannot be taken.
The test makes sure people know that weapons are not allowed in bars, gambling sites or at public gatherings, including church and sporting events, Dietrich said.
The test also includes questions about the legal use of deadly force and the definition of "concealed."
"Almost everyone who comes in, they have no idea" about the state's laws, Dietrich said. "The idea is to at least have the applicants familiarize themselves with the laws of North Dakota."
2005-03-09T09:21:53Z
Copyright 2005
The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company | Privacy Policy Disclaimer Copyright © 1994-2004FindLaw
