Americans with Disabilities
Paralyzed man in NJ, who liked to hunt, was denied his firearms ID and approval from the local chief of police. He sued and the court said to give him the card. Also, there’s this:
Under New Jersey law, a police chief may not give a firearms ID card to anyone with a physical defect or disease that makes it unsafe for the person to handle guns. The chief may also deny an application if approving it “would not be in the interest of public health, safety or welfare.”
Isn’t that rather arbitrary and discriminatory?
November 12th, 2009 at 10:59 am
I’d say it’s unnecessarily vague. If the person is a known nutcase who is probably a danger to himself or others, then that’s one thing. Physical incapability is another; the right to keep and bear arms isn’t contingent on one’s use of them.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I would love to see a ADA Lawsuit on this one.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Yup. But that’s what the law says, and in exactly those words.
Remember what the Jersey judge said: our gun laws are intended to deny gun ownership to anybody the state considers potentially dangerous, criminal _or_ non-criminal.
We here in Jersey stand to gain a hell of a lot more from McDonald than a lot of y’all do.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
What if the person was blind? Even more thought provoking, what if the person was blind and deaf?
November 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
This one hits close to home. I’ve had that talk with my dad recently. He’s having some equilibrium issues and some nerve problems in his extremities. Not sure I want the gummint making that call, but he in no way can use a firearm consistantly well.
First started when he had trouble loading up the mags for his auto, then had trouble with revolvers. I hate it for him, because he loved to shoot when he was younger, to say nothing of home protection.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
http://www.palmpistol.com/
A self defense option for seniors, disabled or others who may have limited strength or manual dexterity.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
There were several lawsuits over both vague and discriminatory when New Jersey’s law went into force 1/1/1968. All were turned back on various grounds. It is heartening to see that after 43 years Garden State judges have begun to soften the law.
Stranger
November 12th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Isn’t that the point?