An accident waiting to happen?

[Phlegm]

Texas to let the blinds hunt.

From Associated Press:

(AP) A lawmaker in this firearm-friendly state wants to help more people get the chance to shoot live animals _ even if those people can't see.

A bill filed for the 2007 legislative session would permit legally blind hunters to use laser sights, or lighted pointing instruments.

"This opens up the fun of hunting to additional people, and I think that's great," said Republican Rep. Edmund Kuempel, the bill's sponsor.

Visually impaired people are allowed to shoot now with the aid of a sighted person, he said, a requirement that would continue if the sights were legalized.

"I've seen this on TV before, when they're taking target practice," Kuempel said. "When they aim the gun, the guide tells them, aim two inches higher or two inches lower and you're on the target, and you're off and running."

Kuempel's bill would give the state until Jan. 1, 2008, to come up with a definition of legally blind so the law could be enforced.

Under existing law, the use of laser sights, spotlights and headlights is strictly prohibited in all Texas hunting. The practice can have the effect of making animals stand still as the light shines on them. Hunters using sights under the proposed legislation would have to carry proof that they are legally blind.

[kaharthemad]

ummm I think Ill continue to hunt in ohio and north carolina

[Dylan]

Does this mean Dick Cheney might get his hunting license back?

[Harrison]

Being legally blind is very different from being actually blind.

[Spazz]

Yea but i dont know if i wanna be in the woods with buncha armed dudes runnin round that can barely see.

[Gypsiyee]

that's what corrective vision is for

i agree that it's pretty scary, but legally blind is still vision that's able to be corrected with contacts and glasses. i'm not terribly far off of legally blind, and i see just fine when i have my contacts in. i had a friend growing up who was legally blind and while her glasses were thick as hell, she still saw fine with them on

[Martrae]

Actually, to be truly legally blind it can't be correctable.

My eyes are horrid and close to the legally blind point (I think it's 20/200) but they are correctable so I wouldn't qualify.

[Harrison]

Yeah, 20/200 is legally blind.

[Gypsiyee]

What I mean is, legally blind doesn't mean for people to be walking around with a cane unable to see. It can be corrected to a point, just not to perfect. People are perfectly functional as legally blind - not ray charles blind.

[10sun]

I still don't feel comfortable with the thought of people half blind with guns waiting to shoot at moving stuff.

[Spazz]

Im all for gun rights but a gun is a toy that you need decent vision to play with.

[Lueyen]

This law would actually make things safer.