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Sunday, May 13, 2012

Funny, they didn't take Ted Kennedy's car from him....

And it's killed more people than this man's guns.
Blind N.J. Man Gets Guns Back Years After Police Took Them Away

ROCKAWAY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — A blind New Jersey man is declaring victory in a legal battle over his gun collection.

The state confiscated his weapons citing safety, but now a judge’s order — citing the right to bear arms — means he will get them back.

Steven Hopler of Rockaway knows a lot about guns. The 49-year-old has been handling them since childhood, and practices regularly at a local gun range. His aim is incredible, especially considering he’s blind.

“I’ve handled guns for many years — being sighted and being blind — and I’ve never had a problem,” Hopler told CBS 2′s Derricke Dennis on Friday.

But four years ago, Hopler had an accident. He shot himself in the leg. Police responded and took six of his guns, citing safety concerns. They also accused him of drinking too much.

“They had taken the guns that were out in plain sight,” Hopler said.

That episode began a legal battle that wound up in Morris County Superior Court. Prosecutors argued Hopler shouldn’t have guns because he’s a danger. However, a judge ruled otherwise, saying his disability shouldn’t take away his constitutional right to bear arms...

With the ordeal finally over, Hopler said the victory is about more than guns.

“I wouldn’t say power, [it's] freedom,” he said.

Sorry guys, but if the guns are not part of an investigation or seized by court order you got no business with them.  Don't know the details of how he shot himself but the article drops that in plus some needless crap about his drinking (for some reasons gives few details) and I believ it's only to support the DA position in this matter.  Thankfully the judge saw through all of this.

Score one for the good guys...

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