Blind Gunslinger

[Jazzy]

At 27, Carey McWilliams became the first totally blind person in the USA to acquire a concealed-carry permit. Despite weapons training during his ROTC years, McWilliams has faced opposition to his right to bear arms from both the media and public officials.

Once fervently against hunting, McWilliams now views hunting as a way to connect to a system greater than himself and cope with PTSD brought on by a recent violent dog attack. In his downtime, he carries a loaded pistol to the grocery store.

Source with video

Debate Statement:
He has a right to bear arms under the second amendment.

Debate Question:
Do you agree or disagree and why?

 

[DrLeftover]

Good for him.

 

[Jazzy]

Good for him.

Are you agreeing with the debate statement? If so, why?

 

[Jazzy]

Here's another video published on Jun 15, 2012:
Concealed Weapons Permit Holder and totally blind Alligator Hunter Carey McWilliams talks about how he shot this possible Boon and Crocket Idaho male black bear at 9.15 P.M. on May 31, 2012 at a range of 60-yards with his personal 30.06 bolt action rifle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORqu9mFeEpc

 

[Jazzy]

I disagree that he has a right to bear arms under the second amendment.

He carries concealed, is totally blind and suffers from PTSD brought on by a recent violent dog attack. I don't care how great a shot he is or even how he does it. I agree with Smooth that one day he will mistakenly hit a person or animal he didn't mean to hit.

 

[Jazzy]

After passing a pistol marksmanship course through the Army ROTC with a GPA of 4.0 at age eighteen, McWilliams went on to achieve world fame age twenty-seven, when he passed all shooting and written exams to receive his first concealed weapons permit from North Dakota. In 2005, he became a figure in the National Gun Debate when he publicly opposed a move by his home state’s legislature to remove the shooting portion of the CCW permit, stating that such allowed the carrying of loaded firearms by individuals who may have no knowledge of safe gun operation. Despite opposition from many sides of the issue, in 2007, he pursued other state’s carry permits, obtaining a second CCW from the state of Utah, allowing him to carry a firearm in most of the United States with reciprocity. After over a decade, he still carries a loaded firearm in public for self-defense.

In 2008, McWilliams became an avid outdoorsman, hooking sharks and tarpon, while hunting deer and elk by rifle, shotgun, and crossbow. even Savage Arms CEO, Ron Coburn, marveled at a 156-yard shot McWilliams made on an antelope from a standing vehicle. His wing shooting of ducks, doves, and pheasants also earned him a place in the history books as the first case of a totally blind hunter downing a variety of birds in flight.

On August 16, 2011, McWilliams made a different kind of history by traveling to the Florida Everglades, harvesting by 44-magnum bangstick an over 11-foot, estimated between quarter-ton and half-ton bull alligator. Standing on the mud between two gators of about equal length, he killed his gator at a frightening range of six-inches during this night hunt on shore.

Source

@Smooth: Since it's been over a decade, does that change your mind?

 

[Jazzy]

I'm not sure why the length of time would make me change my mind on this one. Are you saying that since he's had the CCW for over 10 years and nothing "bad" has happened then it probably won't in the future? Sort of a "law of averages" argument?

Not at all. I had this thrown at me (on another forum) and wanted to see your reaction to their argument. Their argument, didn't hold water with me either.

 

[Jazzy]

I'm not sure why the length of time would make me change my mind on this one. Are you saying that since he's had the CCW for over 10 years and nothing "bad" has happened then it probably won't in the future? Sort of a "law of averages" argument?

Not at all. I had this thrown at me (on another forum) and wanted to see your reaction to their argument. Their argument, didn't hold water with me either.

Did they actually say something to the effect of "If it hasn't happened by now then it probably won't happen at all"??!

They said that since it's been a decade, he's proven that he's safe to carry.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

I have to think about this one for a while if this blind man should own a gun. You can't and never could depend on cops to protect you. Cops are the clean up crew after a crime has been committed. So whats a blind man to do. Just not sure on this.

Dont care about the PTSD that means nothing to me on judging if a person should own a gun. The term is being over used by the leftists as a excuse for taking away rights.

 

[Bluezone777]

My guess would be his other senses heightened up considerably beyond an average person due to his blindness which does happen at least to some degree. He may very well be the one odd ball out of the group that gets abilities that no one or almost no one else who is blind gets. I still say it would make me uneasy having him walking around with a gun even if he has shown to not have any problems in using it. Who wants to bet if he does shoot someone accidentally that he will be painted as a helpless blind man who couldn't do any better when aiming his gun the day he shoots someone on accident? He may not want to do that but I am sure a lawyer would do just that if he were to get in trouble for hitting someone he didn't intend to hit with his gun.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Dont care about the PTSD that means nothing to me on judging if a person should own a gun. The term is being over used by the leftists as a excuse for taking away rights.

I can agree with you on this, Liberty. One or two of my doctors suggested that I may have PTSD after my motorcycle wreck. I don't have flashbacks or anything like what you hear about in regard to people with PTSD.

You don't know me as well as some of the others here, but no one defends gun owners and opposes gun control with more ferocity than I do. That being said, I still cannot support this man having a CCW. I've watched all the videos and read all the articles, and there is nothing there explaining how he can be accurate without vision.

At one point he spoke of echo-location, similar to the way bats and dolphins see. I can't fathom a human being as able to master that kind of skill. I don't believe it is possible for any person to have a clear picture of what is around them by listening to the echoes bouncing off of things and people around him. I just can't accept that.

I understand what you are saying but on this answer I would have to see this guy in action maybe on a gun range or one of those active ranges where you shoot moving bad guys. I just don't want to sound like the liberals I despise so much that would remove a personal right as easily as me opening a can of soda. So I am holding off on judgement.