The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Fatman on June 12, 2010, 10:27:40 PM
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Unbelievable!
Blind N.J. man seeks return of stolen guns
June 11, 2010 11:05 AM
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey prosecutor is fighting a blind man from recovering at least six guns that were stolen from him.
Undercover detectives purchased five of Steven Hopler's handguns on the street and a sixth was used in a suicide.
The Rockaway Township resident, who has been blind since 1991 because of complications from diabetes, won permission in 1994 to buy firearms and shoot them under supervision.
Authorities say the 47-year-old poses a danger to public safety because he's lax in handling the weapons and in keeping records.
Hopler's home was burglarized in 2009.
Hopler at first denied that his neighbor had access to the apartment. Kenneth Struck Jr. eventually pleaded guilty to burglary.
A hearing over whether Hopler can get his guns back is planned for July or August.
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Why is there a hearing to determine if he can get his guns back? He "won permission in 1994 to buy firearms" and is not under arrest for anything at this time. He is a law abiding citizen that had his property stolen, recovered by law enforcement, and he deserves to have it returned to him!
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Authorities say the 47-year-old poses a danger to public safety because he's lax in handling the weapons and in keeping records.
a) Is this profiling people who are visually impaired?
b) There are "record keeping" requirements for private citizens?
c) Would the "authorities" like to put up, for comparison, their record keeping and firearm theft/loss statistics?
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I don't think I'd want him covering my 6, but he should not be deprived of his Constitutional rights by virtue of his blindness. This is another example of the State over-stepping its authority. Sheesh.
Offered by Crusader who would not willingly stand beside him at the range, but would gladly stand behind him in this fight.
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I don't think I'd want him covering my 6, but he should not be deprived of his Constitutional rights by virtue of his blindness. This is another example of the State over-stepping its authority. Sheesh.
Offered by Crusader who would not willingly stand beside him at the range, but would gladly stand behind him in this fight.
+1. I will stand back to back with him in a gunfight.
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why do I have this feeling there is alot more to this then is being told...
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why do I have this feeling there is alot more to this then is being told...
As usual, Tab, there probably is. He may have a history of NDs for all we know. But on the surface the story raises many questions and points.
I'd stand beside him and help him on the range. I hope when I become too feeble or disabled that someone would occasionally take me to the range and guide my hands.
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I'd like to hear from Jay on what type of record keeping NJ has. I'm assuming from one of the half statements made that they are hitting him for not having his guns or apartment secure enough to protect from theft. Or possibly that the guns were taken, and law enforcement found out about it before he realized it had happened.
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I once sold a stalking rifle to a guy who had been blinded in an airplane crash, we put REAL high scope rings on it so his gamekeeper could stand behind him and let him know when to shoot. I think he did OK, he returned a few years later and we added an under barrel laser so they could get on target quicker. He just loved to feel the gun on his shoulder.
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I took Drivers Ed with a blind guy.
He got a license to drive.
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I was searching for 'blind man guns' to find out more about this, and found this site.
This is just wrong, but funny! (http://www.chasermag.com/the-arena/7-blind-man-with-gun-vs.-quadriplegic-with-knife.html)
BTW, I found ONE site that had a 'report' saying the blind guy in the OP had a ND and wounded himself in the shin, and the police reported he had pistols 'scattered around the house'. No verification, no second source, not a media report. Who knows? We'll just need to wait and see.
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New Jersey registers every weapon sold in the state through the dealer, with handguns requiring an additional permit for each. We have a limited time to report stolen weapons ( not sure what that is). I don't believe there are any storage requirements for individuals except that they cannot be left accessible to children.
I have to agree with TAB that there may be more to this story. I know of a guy around here, a vet (admittedly a pain in the a** in his neighborhood). He raised hell and the police came to his home and removed all firearms. We were pretty worked up about it until it came out that he had not admitted to having been treated for undisclosed psychological disorders on his FID application. "Lie" on the applications in NJ, then you can't own ANY of your guns legally.