It is not my intent to make these words recommendations, however anyone wishing to proceed should first seek official training, preferably from law enforcement or the U.S. military.
Special Item of Note
Having carried loaded firearms successfully in public for the last decade plus, I think it has been proven that a blind person is capable of safely doing so as long as they adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Shooting Questions and Answers portion of this site. Throughout the years, I have been approached by other blind persons seeking my guidance in obtaining training in the pursuit of their own concealed weapons permits. Although I have helped some to navigate their way to getting their own permits, I caution them and others that not everyone, sighted or blind, has what it takes to defend themselves in this way. There are certain liabilities and responsibilities in choosing to carry a gun. They are not cool. They are deadly weapons and therefore should be treated as such.
What is your stance on gun rights?
Everyone who isn’t sharpening spoons while arguing with invisible people, or such, should have the right to protect themselves with any firearm they want, but should be trained to operate that weapon within the framework of their own limitations. I believe firmly in shooting tests. They demonstrate that the applicant has at least fired a gun once before carrying in public. Beyond that, they don’t have a “Real World” application. I’ve never heard of cardboard firing back, have you?
What is a blind marksman?
My definition of a blind marksman is someone who independently loads, aims, and fires his or her weapon, honing in on a target with all available sensory input to deliver a tight pattern, while maintaining 100% control of the weapon. Sorry, but they aren’t someone who just pulls the trigger, as others hold and aim the weapon. I have flown coach a number of times, but I don’t call myself a commercial pilot. My personal philosophy is that if I will be held 100% accountable for the result of the trigger pull, then it will be I who will be both in 100% control of the weapon, and 100% responsible for insuring the safety of others.
How did you first obtain gun training as a blind person?
My marksmanship was first certified and documented nearly two decades ago through the U.S. military.
How many states can you legally carry your weapon?
I can now with my two state-issued permits carry my gun in 31 states, including Minnesota, that denied my permit’s application, but in which I have since legally carried my weapon.
Can you describe how a blind person can hit targets at the range?
Just like a submarine tracks a ship or a bat or whale finds its prey in the Wild, a blind shooter can find the general location of the target quickly by Listening for a beacon's direction. The best thing for me is a series of slow rhythmic beeps such as a smoke detector taped to the target, but anything will do as long as its tone is not overwhelming with a lot of echoing feedback. Measure the pulses in each ear and focus until the sound is equal in both ears. This means that the beacon is centered with your nose. Square your shoulders and memorize where your body is when the desired frequency comes to the center. An imaginary line should be able to be drawn from your eyebrows, neck, shoulders and heart to the target. Raise the gun slowly to check the alignment from your heart to your palms holding the gun. Using your mind's eye, picture the gun's barrel before you and the target beyond. Image a line going from your center of gravity, between your wrists and along the image of the gun's sights.
Gravity and body positioning are two constants that anyone can used to align oneself to the target. Controlling breathing and relaxing will help steady the gun. The trigger pull should be so gentle that the shot should almost surprise you. Tighten your grip on the gun to the point of making the gun shake slightly. Then relax your hold until the shaking stops and a firm, but steady grip is established. Adjust your stance as required for the desired spread, always maintaining one firm foot pointing towards the target so you will not loose orientation during readjustment and to absorb the shock of the gun's recoil.
Why would a blind person need a firearm for protection?
May I first state the obvious. A Blind person can neither avoid a dangerous situation, nor run from one should it occur, do to obstacles that might be in your escape rout. This means that you will have to stand and fight with whatever means you have at your disposal. No other method of defense is as effective against criminals as a firearm. A firearm in a blind person’s hands is no more dangerous than one in a sighted shooter’s hands; maybe less if you adhere to certain guidelines.
How can I defend myself as a blind person in my own home?
First off, no one sighted or blind can use a gun in self-defense without certain criteria having been met. I recommend for home defense getting a 12-gage 18.25 inch-barrel tactical shotgun with front and rear pistol grips. This provides better control over the weapon with less distance between your center of gravity and the gun’s muzzle. I would use number 7 bird shot. Such was the type of shell I used on my website to explode that bottle at about the range that most assailants would be in all reality. Also in all reality, you may not have to pull the trigger, because no one can mistake the racking of a shotgun. And if they are foolish enough to not turn tail and run at the sound, then intent could be established.
How can I hunt as a blind outdoorsman?
First of all, never allow someone to touch your weapon during aiming, as this will increase the chance of a misfire. Only in an emergency should more than one mind try and control the same weapon.
With every species you hunt, new weapons and techniques need to be put into place to be successful in the field. For wing shooting as a blind hunter, if you can hear it aim for it, but if a sighted guide is present, have them place their hands on your triceps and go with their swing by following the pressure of their palms. Stay smooth and follow through to insure that the shot pattern flows to paint the bird out of the sky.
With land targets the blind hunter must keep their nose facing into the sound of the target, if any sound is made, providing a general direction which cuts back on the need for drastic adjustments. By keeping your head and shoulders level both helps maintain orientation to the target and keeps the head from obstructing a clear view of the scope to your guide. If you feel a bit diminished by having a sighted assistant, take heart that even the mightiest hunters of African big game require Gun Bearers to take on elephants and lions, so you are in good company. Still, you must use good judgement and marksmanship. Use a rest when possible to steady the shot.
With fingers only touching your left and right shoulders, your scope man or woman can direct your aim by drawing an imaginary crucifix across your neck and back. Following this, he or she can tap your right or left shoulder for an adjustment to the right or left. To get the level, they can tap the middle of your back for down and tap the back of your neck for up. The urgency of the taps can be a wordless indication of just how far to adjust.
You can also do this with the constant pressing of your guide’s hands on your shoulders if this makes you more sure of the shot. Doing this, you need to follow the slow steady pressure of your guide’s directions to aim.
If no ear protection is present and the game is way beyond earshot, your scope man or woman can just say right, left, up, down, and fire. They can also say fire if the game is close, since the shot will be too fast for the animal to move out of position if you don’t allow for a pause before firing.
If hearing protection is in place, your guide might want to tap three times rapidly on a shoulder to signal fire.”
Are there any special rules or techniques needed to safely carry a gun?
Concealed carry is a great deal different than using a gun in a familiar environment, such as in your own home. It requires action exclusively at pointblank range. This is to assure that defensive action was necessary and to positively identify the assailant. I would never pull the gun from being concealed, since such makes the weapon vulnerable to being knocked from your grip. You must watch the caliber for the sake of your hearing, since no nut is going to wait a minute for you to get your hearing protection on.
Some might question the safety of the public, but keep in mind two things. One, I don’t think that an attacker will stand aside a moment for you, if you had sight, to check the shot, before it’s made. And two, not even 20/20 vision can redirect a fired bullet, nor stop a larger caliber from passing through the assailant and striking something on the other side. Try and use special fratricidal ammunition-like loads. These are expensive, but far less expensive than a mistake.
A special permit is required to carry. Each state is different in their requirements and these do change from time-to-time as the political climate changes in each state. You can practice for any possible shooting test at any range. Obtaining gun training from law enforcement or the U.S. military is largely based on luck. Try Networking at local gun shows and gun shops, or talk to family members that might have experience in this field.
How difficult is it to get a permit to carry?
Keep in mind that some states might refuse your application even if completed, because of the stigma attached to the blind. Don’t waste your efforts in trying to convince those who have their minds made up, so agree to disagree with no malice and move on. Someone somewhere will be receptive to the idea. It might just take a while, so have patients, which is a trait that should be well known to the blind.
A Final Note:
Above all remember, brains are more important than sight for safe carrying, as it continues to be proven true on the nightly news. Since The Supreme Court’s ruling on the Second Amendment as an individual right, remember that you are an American citizen too and thus you do have a right to Keep and Bear Arms.
