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In my state of Mass. in order to buy a rifle a person has to be at least 18, they fill out the forms pay a fee, take a safety course and must pass the background check. They then get what is called a FID or a Firearms Identification Card. They can then go to a gun store and buy a rifle and bullets for it.
When a person turns 21 they must do everything that the FID card requires and then the type of firearms license they receive is at the discretion of their towns Police chief. The license dictates what they can lawfully do with the handgun whether it be for target and hunting or a class A large capacity license which also allows the licensee to carry concealed.
This system has worked pretty well in the state of Massachusetts.
The laws vary widely state to state but I think something that the Feds should consider is raising the minimum age when a person can buy a gun across the nation from 18 to 21.
Decades ago the legal drinking age was challenged and it was raised to 21 for every state.
The same thing happened during the gasoline crisis of the 70's when 55mph became the nations standard speed limit.
The thing is there are many 18 year old young adults that are mature and responsible enough to safely handle a firearm just as their are many that can handle their alcohol but as we recently saw in Florida with the school shooting there are people that have no business owning a gun, (at any age) but perhaps with a few more years to develop he might have reconsidered murder.
There is also concerns about drugs like anti depressants, and ADD levelers that are being fed to many kids. They are fine on them but how many times have we heard about someone going crazy when they stopped taking their "fix". We don't really know the long term affects of these drugs on the developing minds of kids and allowing them to own guns is a potential disaster waiting to happen.
All too often we relive another horror story of a mass shootings carried out by a young person that snaps. We also have many deaths from alcohol poisoning and drunken accidents where "kids" entering college party to much.
The legal drinking age is 21.
I think the Feds should step in and make the legal age of gun ownership 21.
I agree there is a significant "gap" in being consistent in what we determine the ages of consent/responsibility are.
Driving. 16
Join the military 17
Voting 18
Tobacco 18
Long guns 18
Handguns 21
Alcohol 21
This doesn't make sense. It's very inconsistent.
Another thing I forgot to mention is the age for Voting should also be raised to 21.
What does a kid know about politics at 18 besides what they have been told by their parents or teachers or mass media ?
Another thing I forgot to mention is the age for Voting should also be raised to 21.
What does a kid know about politics at 18 besides what they have been told by their parents or teachers or mass media ?
to be fair this could be said about anyone. Plenty of my peers and people well into their 30's might as well be children when it comes to voting.
I say raise the age of any gun ownership to 21. Rental car companies don't rent to people under the age of 21, why? Because they consider them a bad risk and prone to do something stupid so why do we allow the under 21 crowd to buy guns?
I say raise the age of any gun ownership to 21. Rental car companies don't rent to people under the age of 21, why? Because they consider them a bad risk and prone to do something stupid so why do we allow the under 21 crowd to buy guns?
Then why can we trust them to make decisions like using tobacco? Viewing or participating in Pornography? Having the mental capacity and judgement to vote intelligently? To decide that they want to risk their lives or make life altering decisions like joining the military?
Then why can we trust them to make decisions like using tobacco? Viewing or participating in Pornography? Having the mental capacity and judgement to vote intelligently? To decide that they want to risk their lives or make life altering decisions like joining the military?
In other words, don't think about solving any problems.
Or, of course, you're free to offer some suggestions to solve the problem.
Then why can we trust them to make decisions like using tobacco? Viewing or participating in Pornography? Having the mental capacity and judgement to vote intelligently? To decide that they want to risk their lives or make life altering decisions like joining the military?
The reason being is that a teen/ young adults brain is not as developed as an older persons because they often lack life experience to make the best decisions.
Things like smoking will not kill you right away but getting into a car after having too many can.
Joining the military at 18 is a good alternative to many young people that would otherwise be lost. There is a chance that you may be deployed to a dangerous zone where you could be injured or killed but for most that sign up it is an educated decision that is often made with input from parents and people that have served.
The decision on who to Vote for can be swayed by ones parents or even for the young adults a celebrity or sports star they look up to or even fake news clips on social media.
How many times have we heard of teens being bullied and then either taking their own life or bringing a gun to school to take out their enemy? It happens too often but as adults we know that the ups and downs of high school will be forgotten but for the teens it is everything at that moment and they are prone to do bad things acting out of emotion.
The Florida school shooter had many problems and no doubt a serious issue for him was his school life or lack of it since he had been expelled. I don't know if he had a score to settle with the faculty or individual students but he didn't seem to select who lived or died.
By raising the age of gun ownership to 21 across the nation we just may avoid the next kid that gets triggered by lifes perceived unjust treatment of him and choosing to let his emotions take over and he brings a gun to school.
Of course this won't stop a kid from stealing mom or dads gun and going on a shooting spree but it might help to stop the violence.
Whatever the actual number is, if there is an age at which the government can conscript somebody into the military and send them to kill or be killed, THAT is the age of majority - for everything.
I think the Feds should step in and make the legal age of gun ownership 21.
What do you think? Should it be 21?
Federal law bars anyone under 21 from owning or possessing a hand-gun, and also owning or possessing hand-gun ammunition.
The law hasn't deterred criminal youth, who continue to commit murders.
You may pass such a law for the legal age of gun ownership, but it won't deter criminals.
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