SALINE COUNTY, Kan. (KWCH/Gray News) — A Norwegian man attempting to rollerblade across the U.S. was killed in a hit-and-run in Kansas, officials said.

The Saline County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as 24-year-old Joachim Lanham.

Lanham was documenting his rollerblading journey across the U.S. on Instagram. According to a post from his family, he was hit by an SUV on day 22 of his journey from New York to Los Angeles

  • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.worldOP
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    3 days ago

    Yup, and in many states it’s legal for blind people to own guns.

    When I hear of people like this driver, it reminds me of the quote from Coming to America: “Imagine a country so free one can throw glass in its streets.” It’s meant as a joke in the movie, but for me, it’s actually a really great way to describe our concept of freedom.

    • BillyClark@piefed.social
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      2 days ago

      I saw a commercial where a blind veteran used those Meta spy glasses everybody hates to ask where the flag was so he could salute it.

      So, “Hey Meta, where is the intruder?”

    • k0e3@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      At least blind gun owners won’t shoot based on skin colour.

    • INeedANewUserName@piefed.social
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      2 days ago

      Why shouldn’t blind people be allowed to own guns. Transferable machine guns have been a way better investment than bonds for essentially their entire legal existence. There are plenty of legitimate reasons blind people should be allowed to own guns.

        • grue@lemmy.worldM
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          2 days ago

          Ironically, the guns the other commenter is talking about became investments because the ban on them restricted the supply.

          <moderator hat on>

          But that’s getting off-topic, so if anybody reading this wishes to discuss guns further please start a thread in a different community.

    • FartMaster69@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      3 days ago

      Are you implying we need to be more ableist against the visually impaired?

      Blindness is a spectrum not just a binary can see and can’t see.

          • Rbnsft@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            If a legally blind Person is not allowed to own a driver’s license why should they be able to own a gun?

            • warm@kbin.earth
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              2 days ago

              Arguing with Americans about guns is futile. It’s too ingrained in their culture, they grow up with it drilled into them.

            • grue@lemmy.worldM
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              2 days ago

              Being allowed to own a thing is different from being allowed to use it in public. A blind person shouldn’t be allowed to drive or carry a gun, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they shouldn’t be allowed to display them in their home as art or something like that.

      • Enkrod@feddit.org
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        2 days ago

        There need to be tests to determine if somebody is fit to own a gun or operate a vehicle. Part of that test needs to be about visual and mental aquity. Your mind and sight needn’t be perfect, but at some point you are crossing too much into “you can’t be trusted with other peoples safety if you are allowed to operate this instrument of death” and that is where a line needs to be drawn.

        There is nothing ableist about that, it’s a common sense safety measure for the people around you.

        • Slashme@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          Well, you’re allowed to own a car even if you aren’t allowed to drive it. Maybe for guns there should also be separate rules for ownership and operation?

          I mean, ideally, I’d be for no private ownership of firearms at all - that just makes for a safer society.

          • Enkrod@feddit.org
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            2 days ago

            I mean yes… that’s what a collectors permit is… Viewed in that light…

            But I agree, ideally, private gun ownership should be AT LEAST heavily regulated.