The reason I am sitting on the fence on this one is that, while I do not have a problem with our military or police aged 18-20 owning a handgun, I also do not feel that they are any better than non military or law enforcement aged 18-20. If we need 18-20 year olds to own or possess handguns, rather they be police officers, an Ohio Reservist or a college student, why don't we just change the law to allow all 18-20 year olds to possess handguns. Why do we need to create higher classes of citizens that are better than someone else because they were hired by a police force?
Your misgivings are right. Listen to them.
I don't believe in "Only Ones." Either we're all in it together or we are not equal under the law. This is no incremental step in the right direction. It's simply more elitism.
You notice once cops got nationwide concealed carry how many of them went to the wall to include the rest of us? Funny thing--once they have their place at the table, they don't concern themselves overmuch with those of us standing outside in the cold looking at the banquet through the window. Except maybe to pull the drapes closed.
That said, I absolutely support the right of these individuals to keep and bear arms without infringement--right there alongside you and me.
Why would someone magically become worthy of a gun the day after they are 17 years, 364 days old? Ageism is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteSociety has great difficulty deciding with certainty when the maturity required to make grave decisions has been achieved - operating vehicles, voting, military service, consumption of alcohol, firearms possession. The resulting legislation is at best silly. In Florida, like many states, you may purchase ammunition for a rifle at 18 but must be 21 to purchase pistol ammunition. Ammunition usable in either, such as .22LR? Use common sense and lie if you must. An eighteen year old is essentially a second class citizen.
ReplyDeleteAnother problem not easily dealt with is at the other end of the age spectrum. When do you tell grandpa he should no longer drive? Would you trust someone with a weapon after trusting them for over sixty years of their adult life? Has any elderly voter ever been disenfranchised? Do they ever want to attain second class citizen status again?