Bill St. Clair
Member
Stinkyshoe:
It used to be (still is?) common in farm country for kids to drive tractors, sometimes into town. They're a bit easier to drive than a car, since the speed is usually lower, but the real problem with kids driving cars is reaching the pedals. If a kid is big enough to physically drive the car, and has demonstrated consistent safe driving, then I have no problem with it.
Personally, I consider driving licenses to have nothing whatsoever to do with how well people drive. I took a driving test in Wyoming when I was 16 and a motorcycle driving test in Boston at twenty-something (which I actually failed since I couldn't do a figure eight, but the cop passed me anyway). They check my vision when I renew my license. Does that mean I'm a safe driver at 47 in New York? I think the real reason for driving licenses, and car registrations, is to keep track of the herd.
I don't think there should be any legal minimum age for purchasing a firearm, just as there's no minimum age for purchasing a hammer or a screwdriver. It's a tool. If you abuse it, you suffer the consequences. No matter how old you are. That said, I would expect most vendors to hesitate should a five-year-old walk into the store and ask for an Uzi. Just as they'd likely refuse to sell a young kid poison. Liability problems...I agree that age means nothing when it comes safety but are you saying that they should lower the age of purchasing shot guns, rifles and handguns? Should 12 year olds also be allowed to drive cars, or is the reasoning because the constitution doesn't say anything about cars, then it can be regulated?
It used to be (still is?) common in farm country for kids to drive tractors, sometimes into town. They're a bit easier to drive than a car, since the speed is usually lower, but the real problem with kids driving cars is reaching the pedals. If a kid is big enough to physically drive the car, and has demonstrated consistent safe driving, then I have no problem with it.
Personally, I consider driving licenses to have nothing whatsoever to do with how well people drive. I took a driving test in Wyoming when I was 16 and a motorcycle driving test in Boston at twenty-something (which I actually failed since I couldn't do a figure eight, but the cop passed me anyway). They check my vision when I renew my license. Does that mean I'm a safe driver at 47 in New York? I think the real reason for driving licenses, and car registrations, is to keep track of the herd.