I'm 27, and have had my CCW permit for 6 months now. I would have had it sooner, but lived with an anti-gun family and then an anti-gun girlfriend after that, so any gun more than a BB/pellet gun was out of the question.
However, my father did insist in teaching me gun safety at a young age, should I ever have to use one. He used to carry one for his job - I think he went "anti-gun" due to my mother being against firearms. (My mother has kinda warmed up to me owning and carrying now.)
My girlfriend is currently 20, one year shy of being able to get her PA License To Carry Firearms. She currently works at a Wal-Mart, where she is required to park her car so far away from the front doors that she becomes a prime target for a mugger/thief/rapist/etc. She does shoot with me, however, and is considering a license to carry when she hits that "magic age". Her brother and I have convinced her to at least get a kinfe and maybe some OC spray for now. She took that advice and last night puchased a new Kershaw 1550ST Assisted-Opening and keeps it clipped inside her front pants pocket.
I believe if you are responsible, law-abiding, and mentally stable, you should be permitted to own and carry a gun WITHOUT A PERMIT. I also believe the age should be lowered to 18 rather than 21. I know for my girlfriend, it could be the difference between being fully prepared to deal with a lethal threat and being "carried by six".
-38SnubFan
