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Blind man gets guns back after fatal shooting

Posted at 11:18 AM, Feb 25, 2014
and last updated 2014-02-25 11:18:57-05

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WESH) - A blind man who was acquitted of charges after he shot and killed another man got his guns back. While the Florida judge said he did not want to return the guns to John Rogers, the law required him to do so.

"I have to return property that was taken under the circumstance. I have researched and haven't found case law to say otherwise," the judge said.

Police confiscated Rogers' 10mm Glock along with a rifle used to kill a 34-year-old man during a March 2012 fight. Last month Rogers was granted immunity under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.

"I'm happy that justice was done," the legally-blind Rogers said following the ruling.

Rogers, who become legally blind in a construction accident, said he needed the guns for protection.

"It's my constitutional right. Second of all, I wasn't carrying these firearms around. I was in my house on five acres on a private road in Geneva out of the way," he said when asked about those who believed he should not be allowed to have guns. "The family has been through enough, and I feel like have been through enough, and I would like to retire, and put this behind me and move forward."