Guns for 18 year olds.

[Rye Miles #13621]

There's a movement in Texas to let 18 yr. olds buy handguns and also get concealed carry permits. I'm not sure where I stand on this. An 18 yr. old can buy a high powered rifle or shotgun and also go in the military and kill or be killed. Seems kinda hypocritical. Yet I can see the other side also, at the gun shop/range I work at part time I see plenty of immature 18-20 yr. olds, in fact I see alot of immature "adults" too!!!

 

What do ya'll hafta say about this?? Rye

[LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L]

I've trusted my now 19 year old with a handgun since he was 7.

 

I know a lot of 50 year old men I don't trust with one.

 

I don't see how you can successfully legislate an age that someone magically becomes mature.

[Chisler Wood]

I've had pistols that were mine (bought by mom and dad with my money) since I was 12.......I got to shoot them when I wanted.....Loaded ammo for them..When I got my drivers license I even drove myself to matches...I'm 35 now....Still, I would not change the law........Just because I was a good kid and you were a good kid......doesn't mean that everyone will be..........There is just something about a handgun (to my thinking at least) that brings out the bonehead in a lot of people...young and old..........If I think my kid is mature enough to have one then I'll buy them one..........3 years isn't that long to wait in the meantime

 

CW

[Goody, SASS #26190]

I'm with the Lawman on this. Just because someone is 21, not 20 and 364 days, doesn't mean they are any more responsible. I have absolutely no problem with it.

[Nichols Creek, SASS #77627]

No problem. If the gov't don't like it, then I suggest that the voting age, military service, and driver liscense all be raised to 21 also. I also have a problem with being able to send soldiers to combat (sometimes 2 tours) before they are 21, and when they come home can't even buy a beer. Not even on post.

[Pit Bull Tex]

My sons have had their one handguns from 7 years on and I trusted them or they would not get to shoot theirs,I have a 8 year old grand son that has not been taught at home so I am teaching him now.It will be a little of work before I can trust him. I worked with grown man that did not need a hand gun .

[Smithy]

I'm jealous to hear of you parents of 7 year olds getting their first handgun but can understand and accept it. I'm on the flip side of the coin. My wife accepts my hobbies, but basically is scared of firearms (although she has gone shooting with me and owns a Lady Smith). My three children, now aged 20, 18, and 16 have all been shooting with me any chance I could muster up but their maturity levels are basically inverted with my 16 year old being the most mature of the lot. Unfortunatly what one gets, the others get into so of course posesion would be mine. Then it comes down to shooting time; my daughter, myself without a drivers license, and my wife the driver that doesn't really want her shooting. Not a good combination if you ask me. So I continued my practice sessions at the range and shooting SASS matches and if any child wanted to join me I would bend over backwards to make sure that happened. And that is how I will continue. I won't push, but if they come to me, well then that's a different story altogether. About the law, I think that they should make par with the military one direction or the other. Simple enough. Smithy.

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

Why is this news?

18 year olds have had the ability to own handguns under Federal law for as long as I have been alive.

A dealer could not sell them a handgun, but 18 year olds have been able to purchase handguns from individuals.

 

Tho on a related topic - 18 year olds can not purchase handgun ammo (unless they are purchasing it for use in a long gun)

 

When I was a kid buying ammo - it was always...

"Yeah - the 45acp is for my Marlin camp rifle, same as the 9mm, the 44mag is for my Win 94, the 22's are for my 10-22 and the 38 special? Um, give me a second..."

[runawayshawn]

why not give good 18 year olds a privilage. the crazy gangbanging ones can get guns easy anyways. i think you should not restrict the good law abiding citizens for the stuff the criminals do.

[Long Branch Louie]

If they can fight and die in war, they should be allowed to do everything a 21 year old can do....

[Pitmaster, SASS #78461]

You can't legislate to prevent perfection. I think that as a society we need to remove many laws and regulations and spend a few years letting the necessary corrections happen. As time goes on and more younger people shoot they do learn some as they gain more experience.

[Captain Woodrow Cahill, SASS # 54363]

There's a lot of laws out there that don't make sense, especially when it comes to 18 year olds. At 18 you can join the military and vote - hallmarks of good citizenship and responsible behavior. The same government says they're not responsible enough to own a handgun or buy a beer. So that makes them second-class citizens for three years?

 

Can't have it both ways.

[Bear Saint Paw]

If the 18 yr old goes through a CHL class then the instructor('s) are making a mental assessment (or are suppossed to be) as well as verifying their gun handling capability just like everyone else. So to me if they can pass all that then they should be ok.

 

Now as far as just owning/purchasing a handgun, well I have always thought there should be some sort of qualifier FOR EVERYONE regardless of age. Such as an ID card from an NRA conducted firearms class, a CHL, something. You have to pass a class and demonstrate proper use to get a drivers license, why not to own a firearm? They have home taught courses for that so there should be one for firearms too.

 

I had the NRA firearms class back in grade school, still have the card... somewhere.

[Greeenriver SASS #38681]

Sounds like a simple question, but, I think that it should be based on the individual, not 18 YO's as a group. Sure, make it legal, after all, they are old enough to offer their lives up to the military, but still, require at the least, a successful passing of a CCW class. My children were competent with handguns from the time they were 7 or 8, they were the rarity around here, as most kids I see now can't be competent with much of anything to well after they reach 21 or 30.

I had to take Hunter Safety in school. Required course back then in this area, and was the better for it, too.

 

I guess I would have to say that 18 is old enough to serve the US, up to and including the cost of their lives, then it should be also old enough to enjoy the privileges of being a US citizen. All of them, including owning and carrying a handgun, but they should also be held responsible for all their actions as well. With privilege comes responsibilities, and meeting these responsibilities builds character and the foundation of a responsible citizen.

 

Or, and my pick, extend full adult privileges to the ones that serve in the armed forces. I feel that service in the AF's should be a requirement for full citizenship for anyone, and always have.

 

Greeenriver

[Blastmaster]

I have no problem granting an 18YO the right to own and/or carry a CCW handgun,,,, if they have or are serving in the Military. Military records would be their proof. If no military service then the person less than 21YR must wait to own and/or be issued a CCW.

 

I would also add that whatever age is finally decided upon, then that person would be tried and if convicted, would be under the adult court system if they committe a gun related crime. No pleading that the accused person was a juvinile.

 

Lastly, I think it is wrong to compare a somewhat responsible youth living under an adults supervision/household to a irresponsible adult in the hopes of boosting the youth up to a responsible adult status.

 

My opinion only,

 

Blastmaster

[Barterin Bill]

No problem. If the gov't don't like it, then I suggest that the voting age, military service, and driver liscense all be raised to 21 also. I also have a problem with being able to send soldiers to combat (sometimes 2 tours) before they are 21, and when they come home can't even buy a beer. Not even on post.

 

When I was 18 amd in the military I could buy beer on post, just wasn't supposed to buy it to take off post. Maybe it's different now. That's been a long time ago.

[Pitmaster, SASS #78461]

I don't see anywhere in the 2nd Amendment about any restrictions on gun ownership or training being necessary. I suppose gun ownership could be restricted to an age requirement but no older than 18. The less restrictions the better. The more people who have guns the safer we are.

[Sixgun Scotsman SASS #68879]

You can hurt a lot of people with a car. The age for that responsibility is 16. A Legal adult is 18. I say let them own hand guns. The constitution doesn't have an age listed.

 

Scotsman

[stepnmud#33546]

18yrs should be able to buy handguns, but 30 yrs. old to get married.

[Badlands Bob #61228]

Have an 18 year old pass a hunter/firearms safety course to get a pistol prior to 21. They have to have a hunter safety course to get a hunting license in most states anyway. Sure the military gives them guns at age 18 but not without training.

 

+1 on being 30 or over to get married. I also think parents should have to post a bond before having children. The bond is refundable when the kids reaches 18 and graduates high school.

[Nate Kiowa Jones #6765]

When are we ever going to learn, you can't legislate things. You have to legislate peoples bad behavior and bad behavior comes in all ages. If you punish bad people for their bad behavior there is no reason to deny honest folks their rights. This is the problem with gun laws and many other mindsets of our politicians. This very mindset is what has got us this stupid TSA groping and porno scans. We don’t need to be looking for bombs. We need to be looking for Bombers. We need to use Intel to ferret out the people that want to harms us so we know who they are long before they can get on that plan with a bomb.

 

Isreal's history is out future. If we don't take the time to learn from them we will be doomed to repeat their mistakes.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I have always felt that the no pistols till you are 21, and for that matter the no alcohol till 21, laws were not only wrong, but unconstitutional. (And I don't drink.)

 

Let me elaborate. The Constitution says you get to vote at age 18. In my opinion, that means that at 18 you are an ADULT. To tell an adult citizen of the United States that he or she can not own/purchase/use a legal product is just plain wrong. It creates a type of second class citizen, which is contrary to the basic tenants of our way of life.

 

Now, if you want to have the debate as to what should adulthood be, 18 or 21, so be it, but as things stand now, the highest law of the land says you are an adult at 18. That is why I think the various things that are forbidden to 18-20 year olds are unconstitutional prohibitions.

[Nichols Creek, SASS #77627]

If the 18 yr old goes through a CHL class then the instructor('s) are making a mental assessment (or are suppossed to be) as well as verifying their gun handling capability just like everyone else. So to me if they can pass all that then they should be ok.

 

Now as far as just owning/purchasing a handgun, well I have always thought there should be some sort of qualifier FOR EVERYONE regardless of age. Such as an ID card from an NRA conducted firearms class, a CHL, something. You have to pass a class and demonstrate proper use to get a drivers license, why not to own a firearm? They have home taught courses for that so there should be one for firearms too.

 

I had the NRA firearms class back in grade school, still have the card... somewhere.

 

UH, Pard, driving is a priviledge. the RIGHT to keep and bare arms is somewhere in the Constitution I think, if remember correctly. Kinda says something like,"Shall NOT be infringed". Ain't never seen no part about shall not be infringed after ya jump through some gov't hoops. Stupid folks ain't gotta prove they know the issues to vote.Maybe we need a test on the Constitution before we let them do that too.

[gabby the frog 21716]

AND WE LET THEM REPRODUCE AT WILL FROM PUBERTY ON!!!!!!!!

 

GABBY

[Yukon Charley, SASS Life #14739]

I was a pretty dang good shot with a Colt 1911 as young, 19 year old MP at Fort Hood, TX in the early '70's . . . and my 18 year old son was carrying a Beretta 9mm in the Navy. I think the youngin's should be allowed to purchase & carry shootin' irons at 18.

[Hardscrabble,SASS#41292]

I live in Indiana and you can apply for your handgun permit at 18(required if you want to hunt deer with a handgun ) Always thought it strange that you can carry at 18 you just can't buy one at 18. I think maybe one of the reasons we have immature youth is that we in general don't give youth responsibility at young ages ,to teach responsible behavior.As someone said earlier, maturity doesn't magically happen at a particular age ,it comes with training young people to be mature. Maybe immature youth is one of the side effects of a more urban society.

[Rye Miles #13621]

Another ridiculous situation is an 18 or 20 YO can buy an AR 15, for that matter a 30-06, .308. 5.62 x 54 and all other high powered rifles and any shotgun but can't buy a two shot .22 Derringer. Some interesting points have been brought up but I don't sgree with getting a NRA card that says you completed some kind of course. As was said the 2nd Amendment is a RIGHT not a privilege like driving.

[Pitmaster, SASS #78461]

As was said the 2nd Amendment is a RIGHT not a privilege like driving.

 

And should apply to everyone without restriction, unfortunately some folks like to restrict others from having this right.

[Red River Ray SASS#33254]

If they can fight and die in war, they should be allowed to do everything a 21 year old can do....

 

 

Well ther ya go agin. +1

 

 

RRR

[Hacker, SASS #55963]

On the handguns for those aged at least 18 years, I believe that they should be allowed to have them.

If they are old enough to serve this Great Country in the military, vote and get married they are old enough to have a handgun.

If one believes that testing is required then i don't think we are paying attention to our rights.

On the other hand there is no stated age requirement in the constitution nor a list of guns that citizens can own.

That makes NFA unconstitutional as well.

 

I am not sure i understand why people keep putting forth this nonsense that driving is a privilege.

We don't need a license to walk. We don't need a license to ride a horse. We don't need a license to have a horse and buggy, cart or wagon.

But because cars are dangerous and once upon a time had no standard behaviours we now have tests and licenses.

The tests and licenses are here so that drivers have and know standard behaviours. It is a matter of education.

We then get this interpreted as a privilege.

Yet now it is a matter of control.

 

What about the right to be secure from unreasonable search and seizure 4th ammendment.

This ammendment was not just part of BOR just to protect while in ones house, it was there to protect while traveling.

Again no license is required.