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New Jersey Gives Blind Man His Guns Back
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 13, 2012
Modified May 13, 2012
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By
Ben Yakas
Published May 13, 2012
Modified May 13, 2012
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A judge has ruled that the blind New Jersey man who has been fighting for his right to bear arms will get his guns back. Last year, the state had confiscated the weapons of Steven Holper and pushed to remove his gun rights, but a judge decided that the decision goes against a constitutional right to bear arms. “I’ve handled guns for many years — being sighted and being blind — and I’ve never had a problem,” Hopler told CBS. Err, except for that time Hopler shot himself in the leg.
So justice is blind, but still has the constitutional right to carry guns, especially if her friends at the shooting range testify that she has "incredible" aim, as Hopler's friends did to CBS. The state had tried to argue that Hopler was an alcoholic (citing a 2003 incident in which Holper had to be removed from a bar because he was intoxicated), which made him too dangerous to own a gun. Ultimately, the court didn't agree.
Now that Hopler has his guns back, he should consider finding a Russian waitress, heading down to Honduras for some gambling, and really having a time of it:
Tagged
blind
gun laws
guns
new jersey
nj
NRA
second amendment
Steven Hopler
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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