Makes one think

[ED21]

A couple of weeks ago I was instructing a class for NC and UT concealed carry. I teach near and sometimes at a military installation. Most of my students are in the army, have been in the army, a few air force, and some marines come once in a while. This transient mix is why we decided on offering the UT non resident course. This was all as a preface to my interesting observation. (Actually I've had several with the mix of students I have.) During my last class one of my male students during the introduction stated he was in the army and gave his unit. He also stated he had just returned from a tour in Iraq. Not unusual where we are in and of itself. At the end of the class my only female student told me she was only 20 years old but would be 21 in a couple of weeks. When she said that I heard behind me "so am I." I turned and this one male student who just returned from Iraq was the one. I asked him if he was only 20. He said he was but realized he had to wait another month to apply for his concealed carry permit. I started thinking about that and here is a young soldier, not old enough to have a drink of alcohol (good), not old enough to own a handgun, and not old enough to have a concealed carry permit. BUT he was old enough to join the army and deploy to a war zone and fight for his country so we could all enjoy what's left of the benefits we have as Americans. I apologize for this being so long winded but I just wanted to try and express how I felt and still feel about this.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Ironic.

 

[RevolverMan567]

Burns me up!

I come from alot of military family. One of which is a cousin who had a rough childhood and lived as my brother for about 6 years while we were in high school. It has never ceased to amaze and burn me up that our government feels it is prudent to send young men and women to war and possibly their ultimate demise; while at the same time denying them the right to drink, or own a handgun (legally). There are solid arguments for this im sure but my way of thinking is that if we have the audacity to ask someone to lay down their lives for us we should concede a few thing for their courage.

 

[psyopspec]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=282623

A recent discussion on this topic from the handgun forum.

ED21, I'm in complete agreement with you.

 

[Engel]

I am currently enlisted and a gun owner. When you think about humans in general... they are the most fit and in shape at about 18-23ish... If I were a govt. I would want the most fit people fighting for me. I also know better to let youngins drink because they get dumb and hurt or kill themselves and I would not want to be the one telling their momma they got killed because they were wasted and repelling down the side of the barracks. About not being able to get a handgun... thats a different story. I think that should be allowed.

 

[tank mechanic]

I started thinking about that and here is a young soldier, not old enough to have a drink of alcohol (good),

I call hogwash. If you are old enough at 18 to drive around Iraq and be blown up by triple stack artillery shells than you are old enough to to buy a handgun or buy yourself a beer.

-tank mechanic

 

[gbran]

I was in and out of the Army before I reached my 21st birthday. I know the feeling well.

 

[TargetTerror]

I also know better to let youngins drink because they get dumb and hurt or kill themselves and I would not want to be the one telling their momma they got killed because they were wasted and repelling down the side of the barracks.

Think about that statement for a second. You send an 18 year old adult half way across the world, put them in a country and culture they probably know little about, send them out on patrol and give them responsiblity to take someone's life. More pointedly, you find them responsible and mature enough to be able, in the heat of battle while under fire, to be able to immediately and reliably distinguish between enemies and non-combatants.

Yet you don't trust them to have a beer or two?

The problem with teenagers isn't that they are naturally immature or irresponsible, it's that society has ingrained these expectations into them. It is infantalizing, counter-productive, and not surprising that many in turn act foolishly.

There was a recent article in Psychology Today that drove home precisely this point: http://www.psychologytoday.com/rss/pto-20070302-000002.html

 

[ED21]

I started thinking about that and here is a young soldier, not old enough to have a drink of alcohol (good),

I only said this because I see the spotreps and sitreps on a daily basis of our young soldiers who end up losing their career and lives through the mis-use of alcohol. I personally feel that soldiers, regardless of age, should be exempt from the age discrimination for ownership of firearms, the issue of CCW permits, and yes, even alcohol. I know this is a "flip-flop" of my statement but in today's army it is one strike and you are out. Not like when I was enlisted where a soldier was allowed a mistake and then punished but given the chance to "soldier" their way out. Not today. I have nothing against responsible drinking. I've been on both sides and see the results on a daily basis in my job.

 

[junyo]

At least in the US they'll eventually be able to own firearms. Think about the poor jokers in the UK's armed forces that after years of training and actual combat are viewed as incompetent to ever be allowed to own a serious weapon at home.

 

[Wheeler44]

I am not a lawyer

But it seems to me that an 18 yr old can purchase a handgun FTF from a private party.

 

[tmajors]

The voting age was lowered to 18 because 18 year olds were serving in wars, fighting and dying for our country but not being allowed to vote. Yet some years later the drinking age was raised to 21 (while I was in high school). Not sure when purchasing handguns and CCL became 21.

About the drinking law. Technically I *think* it is actually a State by State thing, however if the State has 18 as the drinking age they don't qualify for Federal Highway money. Not sure if it was re-written but I know Idaho pushed back on the 21 age for about a year and was in danger of losing highway funds because of it so they complied. Was a big contriversy about Washington college students coming across the river to get drunk in Idaho cause of the age difference in the drinking laws.

For all intents and purposes 18 year olds are considered legal adults except drinking, guns, and renting a car.

 

[ED21]

North Carolina

http://www.jus.state.nc.us/NCJA/ncfirearmslaws.pdf

The Sheriff has 90 days from the time all of the application materials are received to
either issue or deny a permit. In order for the applicant to be approved, he must:
(1) be a citizen of the United States;
(2) have been a resident of the state for no less than 30 days immediately
preceding the filing of the application;
(3) be at least 21 years of age;
(4) not suffer from any physical or mental infirmity that prevents the safe
handling of a handgun; and
(5) have successfully completed an approved firearms training course (unless
specifically exempted from the course by state law).
-
-
-
4. HOW OLD MUST I BE TO PURCHASE A HANDGUN, SHOTGUN, OR RIFLE?
ANSWER: To purchase a handgun an individual must be 21 years or
older. The age at which a person can purchase a shotgun
or rifle is 18.

 

[cheygriz]

I was 17 when I enlisted. I was still a "child" under American law, but as soon as I shipped overseas, I had all adult rights and privileges, EXCEPT on the BASE. go figure!