A bill introduced yesterday by Rep. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, and Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, would prohibit blind people from carrying guns under the state's concealed weapons law.

Recent news reports have pointed out that several legally blind Kentuckians have obtained permits to carry concealed weapons under a 1996 law. None of those legally blind individuals have misused their personal defense weapons.

To obtain the permits, state residents must take eight hours of certified training, pass a written test on gun safety and gun laws, and demonstrate ability with a firearm by hitting a body-like target 11 times in 20 shots at a distance of 21 feet.

Stein and Marzian have introduced an visual acuity amendment which reads as follows:

(i) Has, along with the application for issuance or re-issuance of a concealed deadly weapon permit, submitted a statement that his or her visual acuity, has tested and is 20/40 or better. The statement shall be signed by a medical doctor, optometrist, or opthamologist. The visual acuity testing shall have been done not more than six (6) months prior to the time that the application for issuance or re-issuance of a concealed deadly permit is submitted.

We think that this amendment to Kentucky’s concealed carry law is a bad idea. Many "legally blind" people can actually see well enough to identify an attacker and acquire a target at the ranges that most personal assaults occur. This amendment would discriminate against those with weak sight and violate the Americans With Disabilities Act. It would deny the constitutional right to self defense to a whole class of people who might not be able to achieve the 20/40 vision rating but are otherwise competent and capable of responsibly handling a gun and defending themselves should the need arise.

Call your Kentucky legislators and leave a message objecting to this misguided amendment at 1-800-372-7181. Also send messages to Gross Lindsay who is chairman of the Judiciary Committee which will be considering this amendment. To find out who your local representatives are, go to the LRC’s Who’s Who page at http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/whoswho/whoswho.htm