Posted on 05/12/2012 9:39:48 PM PDT by Hunton Peck
A blind gun collector can keep his gun permit and will have the weapons previously seized from his house by police returned to him, following a judge’s order handed down Friday in Superior Court in Morristown.
Steven Hopler, 49, of Rockaway Township won the latest battle in an ongoing war over his Second Amendment rights. The Morris County Prosecutor's office had asked Judge Thomas Manahan to revoke Hopler’s firearms ID card and seize all guns in his possession, arguing Hopler abused alcohol and posed a danger to others by being a gun owner.
Hopler's attorney, Gregg Trautmann, said, "First it was, ‘He can’t own guns because he’s blind.’ Now they tried, ‘you’re a habitual drunkard and we think it’s improper because you’re a habitual drunkard.’" .
Hopler testified last month he drinks no more than two beers a day, countering the testimony of his ex-tenant, Kenneth Struck, an admitted burglar, who claimed Hopler would sometimes drink a 30-pack in one night.
The most recent legal scuffle began in 2008 when Hopler, who became legally blind as a result of diabetes in 1991, shot himself in the shin while cleaning one of his guns.
Police responded to his home and seized numerous guns in plain view, leaving behind those guns stored...
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Seems the county wasn't satisfied to take his property, but felt it necessary to defame him in the process, on the word of a burglar.
It's good that he prevailed (mostly; he's still subject to a condition that he use his guns only under supervision -- as if he were a child), but where does he go to get his reputation back?
Well, he won the court case, but police are notoriously slow to return seized weapons, and they my come back in very poor condition.
I would love to see a follow-up on how long it takes for him to get his guns back...
What the hell is a “30-pack” ?
Does he shoot from a “Duck Blind”?
6 less than a 36 pack? Just guessing.
I guess it’s something only burglars know about...
A number of beers now are available in an oversized case of 30 cans. The first one I remember doing it was Stroh’s, wayyy back in the day. Miller and Bud offer 30 pack cases now too. Not sure who else does.
blind bump
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcWVL4B-4pI
Manfred Mann - Blinded by the Light
Revved up like a WHAT?!
HA!
I’d hate to be around when he goes to the range...
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