I probably should have put this in the OC questions thread, but I am including CC as well as OC.
This has been bugging me for some time, I am a supporter of the constitution, and I do not think it is government, or ours to decide for others how they protect themselves. But just how responsible is it for someone who cannot see their hand two feet in front of their face to carry where there is a high likelihood of shooting innocent victims?
Not to mention how urine poor their situational awareness would be.
Good questions. Here's where I landed on it. First, a couple points, then the analysis.
I think "legally blind" is less than total blindness. Also, I think the exact characteristics vary, for example, for some it may be dusky dimness in broad daylight, or maybe the brightness is there, but way, way out of focus.
As for situational awareness, I had the opportunity to talk with a totally blind person. Her situational awareness was pretty danged high--hearing. Based on stuff I've read casually over the years, I understand the fully blind are very attuned to the sounds in their environment. I'm guessing--only guessing--that people whose sight is dramatically diminished probably do similar.
Whether the legally blind, or even totally blind, carry is a question of personal responsibility. By which I mean, I think we really need to leave it up to the sense of responsibility of each blind person.
For example, I could not deny the right to self defense to even a totally blind person in their home. If they live alone, and have a burglar at 3am, when the bedroom door opens, or even if the door knob turns, that is a very narrow field of fire, and the blind person will know exactly where that door is spatially. Even if they miss, that burglar is gonna be gone lightning fast.
And, if they live with others, they can take the same precautions sighted people do: let the family know to knock first on the bedroom door, that there is gun at hand, that the blind person will call out "who is it?" before firing, etc.
In public, a totally blind woman may still need that gun for a contact shot against, say, a rapist.
And, I think those points would still hold true for a legally blind person.
I think it really boils down to trusting the blind person to be responsible; meaning trust them to have a sense of personal responsibility to shoot within their limitations.