Shooting Blind

I think we all know what it means to be “flying blind.” That experience of just making it up as you go, flying by the seat of your pants. Shoot, I do that every week writing this column. But the State of Iowa has taken this idea, put a bizarre and potentially lethal spin on it, then made it a law. That’s right, in Iowa, they’re shooting blind!

          I’m not talking about a blind that you go sit in and wait for some unsuspecting form of wildlife to wander by so you can plug it with a bullet. No, I’m talking about legally, completely, cannot-see-a-thing blind people. And in the heartland of our country, amongst the amber waves of grain, the blind are packing heat.

          Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about advocating for the disabled; believe in limits to gun control; and think if you have a handicap it’s because you play golf. But, I’m not sure how comfortable I feel about putting a weapon in the hands of someone who cannot see what they’re pointing it at. Unless the seeing-eye dog is the one pulling the trigger, then maybe we need to rethink giving a gun license to someone who is blind. Or if they do have a license to carry, maybe someone else gets to carry the bullets.

          You don’t get a license to drive a car if you can’t pass the eye test, right? No one seems to feel that violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. But wouldn’t putting someone who cannot see behind the wheel of a car be as dangerous as handing them a loaded weapon? It doesn’t take 20/20 vision to see that logic, right?

While those in favor of the law seem to be turning a blind eye to the hazards, they aren’t volunteering to change out targets at the shooting range either. Even legendary blind musician Stevie Wonder has spoken out against blind people owning guns, calling the idea “crazy.” I’m going to have to go with Stevie on this one.

          I think we may end up shooting ourselves in the foot if we don’t inject common sense back into our laws. Just because the threat that “you’ll put your eye out,” which seems to universally go along with things like BB guns, doesn’t carry the same weight in this situation doesn’t mean we aren’t flying blind by passing this kind of law.