McWilliams, who can distinguish only different shades of light, hit his target only six of 10 times -- one short of the minimum needed to pass -- on his first try of the shooting part of the permit test. On his second attempt, however, he hit the target all 10 times.

He had nine years' experience in shooting handguns before he got his license in October 2000, Williams said. He owns four pistols and carries one regularly to fend off any attacker.

"I shook a couple people up (when I got my permit), but all I did was exercise my right as an American citizen," he said. "When you're blind, you can't run from an assailant."

Since McWilliams got his permit, he has been a frequently cited example in the national gun debate. He was mentioned in news stories around the world. Filmmaker Michael Moore showed a brief clip of McWilliams, cradling an assault rifle, in his antigun movie, "Bowling for Columbine."

McWilliams' blindness means he must undertake elaborate preparations for target shooting.

When a shooting range has a target that can be reeled back to the shooter, McWilliams uses the sound of the return mechanism to locate the target. Otherwise, he'll put something that beeps near the target, or walk downrange to memorize its location.

McWilliams said he's used the techniques to shoot a two-liter bottle from 45 feet away. He keeps the bottle as a souvenir of his proficiency.

"Some people made fun of my gun thing, but guns are never funny," McWilliams said. "People need to realize that a gun isn't for just anybody."

Dietrich, who opposes dumping the written test, says it requires permit holders to go over North Dakota's laws about where weapons can and cannot be taken.

The written test instructs people that concealed weapons aren't allowed in bars, gambling sites or any public gathering, including churches and sports events, Dietrich said. It also includes questions about the legal use of deadly force and the definition of "concealed."

"Almost everyone who comes in, they have no idea (about the laws)," Dietrich said. "The idea is to at least have the applicants familiarize themselves with the laws of North Dakota."

Aside from Porter and Dietrich, five other North Dakota legislators have concealed weapons permits. They are Reps. Chuck Damschen, R-Hampden, Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood, and Mark Owens, R-Grand Forks, and Sens. Stan Lyson, R-Williston, and David O'Connell, D-Lansford.

The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation lists 6,729 permit holders, including 306 who list out-of-state addresses. Permits cost $25, and are good for three years.

Sen. John Syverson, R-Fargo, has introduced a separate bill to bar public access to the state list of permit holders. It includes their names and addresses, the date the permit was issued and when it expires. The Senate approved the measure 46-0, and the House is holding a hearing on the proposal Wednesday.

Syverson said he was responding to a request from a constituent, whom he would not identify but described as a former police officer. The person did not want disclosure of the fact that he has a concealed weapons permit, Syverson said.

Sen. Bob Stenehjem, R-Bismarck, the Senate majority leader, believes the written test requirement is unnecessary.

Stenehjem said he once had a concealed weapon permit, but he no longer does. He has displayed a photo of himself in his Senate office with a pistol strapped to his hip.

"If I was living in New York or Washington, D.C. or Los Angeles, then, yeah," Stenehjem said. "But we in North Dakota know how to use firearms."