Bill would let blind hunt in Texas

[Cross-X]

Bill Would Let Blind Hunt in Texas
Reuters

AUSTIN, Texas (Dec. 12) - A Texas lawmaker is aiming to allow the blind to hunt. Texas State Representative Edmund Kuempel has introduced a measure that would allow blind people to hunt any game that sighted people can currently pursue.

He hopes it will be passed after the legislature reconvenes in January though he does not expect it to come into effect until 2008.

"This opens up the fun of hunting to additional people, and I think that's great," Kuempel told Reuters.

The bill may find little resistance in Texas, where politicians of all stripes endorse hunting, which is wildly popular in the state.

Under the bill, blind hunters would be required to have a sighted hunter with them and would be allowed to use laser sights and other devices that are currently not allowed.

"A blind person can shoot a rifle by mounting an offset pistol scope on the side of the rifle instead of on top," said Terry Erwin, the Austin-based Hunter Education Coordinator with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

"This allows their companion behind them to peer over their shoulder and help them sight it, but the blind person can pull the trigger," he told Reuters.

 

[Lynne]

Why do I get the feeling that this story will cause all sorts of knee jerk reactions?

 

[dwarven1]

O-kaaaayyyyyy... *backing away slowly*

I need to forward this to a friend of mine and get his input... he's blind, obviously!

 

[drgrant]

Some of this depends on what the standard is for "blindness".

I guess with the provision that they must have a helper it would not
be so bad, per se. Of course, some knucklehead that reads the
headiline is going to say "Oh joy, more "sound shots" there are enough
people that do that already!"

-Mike

 

[Lynne]

O-kaaaayyyyyy... *backing away slowly*

I need to forward this to a friend of mine and get his input... he's blind, obviously!

I'm not trying to be a smart ass luv, but can his computer "talk" to him??

 

[dwarven1]

I sure hope so, Lynne, or else he's got a Braille display! We've been corresponding for years via email.

Rich is a Past Master of my Lodge - he doesn't NEED eyes to know where he is in the Lodge room. One time our former secretary made a comment to Rich about him being "visually impaired". Rich looked at him and said "We visually impaired folks have another name for it; we call it being blind." He then assured John that he wasn't offended by the word "blind".

Rich is a GREAT guy. He's being installed as Master of his new Lodge up in NH this spring... hopefully I'll be able to go up there for a visit when it happens.

 

[Len-2A Training]

"Legally blind" in MA has a meaning like (not sure of exact numbers) 20/400 or so. It does NOT mean that the person can not see, just not see very well.

 

[KMaurer]

[Train Wrick]

Three guys decide to play a round of golf: a priest, a psychologist, and an economist.

They get behind a *very* slow two-some, who, despite a caddy, are taking all day to line up their shots and four-putting every green, and so on. By the 8th hole, the three men are complaining loudly about the slow play ahead and swearing a blue streak. The priest says, "Holy Mary, I pray that they should take some lessons before they play again." The psychologist says, "I swear there are people that like to play golf slowly." The economist says, "I really didn't expect to spend this much time playing a round of golf."

By the 9th hole, they have had it with slow play, so the psychologist goes to the caddy and demands that they be allowed to play through. The caddy says O.K., but then explains that the two golfers are blind, that both are retired firemen who lost their eyesight saving people in a fire, and that explains their slow play, and would they please not swear and complain so loud.

The priest is mortified; he says, "Here I am a man of the cloth and I've been swearing at the slow play of two blind men." The psychologist is also mortified; he says, "Here I am a man trained to help others with their problems and I've been complaining about the slow play of two blind men."

The economist ponders the situation-finally he goes back to the caddy and says, "Listen, the next time could they play at night."

[/Train Wreck]

Ken

 

[sksguns]

"Legally blind" in MA has a meaning like (not sure of exact numbers) 20/400 or so. It does NOT mean that the person can not see, just not see very well.

I think "Legally blind" in MA means your a democrat.

Oops...I hope I didn't offend any blind people....

 

[Admin]

Put them on the Border with no bag limit...

 

[springer]

Dick Cheney does need a new hunting partner.

 

[Shane]

Put them on the Border with no bag limit...

+1

 

[dwarven1]

Comment from my friend:

Hi Ross,
I would say that it is entirely possible for a blind person to hunt actively. It is interesting that the proposed legislation will permit the blind person to use certain devices which are off limits to sighted hunters.
Rich

I do know a few blind folks and they do NOT let a mere lack of sight slow them down. As I said before, Rich will be installed as Master of his Masonic Lodge in March. A kid I went to school with many years ago was usually found in the computer room programming and generally fooling around with the computers - and Pete was completely blind from glaucoma.