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Today's Poll: Should the age limit be raised for buying a rifle from 18 to 21?

By Howard B. Owens
Tim Miller

I voted "yes", but would like to add the caveat of "18 if accompanied by a parent"

If alcohol is too dangerous for the underdeveloped minds of 18-20 year olds***, then firearms are, too.

***BTW - if 18 YOs can serve in the military, and vote, they should be able to drink... But to be consistent, both dangers should be restricted if one if.

Feb 27, 2018, 9:47am Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Isn't the poll question kind of moot?
It only deals with "buying" a rifle. I'm guessing that there are millions of 18-20 year-olds out there, that already have access to rifles that they don't own. I would think a lot, if not most, parents who have firearms in their homes have given their "adult" in-home family members access to the firearms. I grew up with access to my dad's rifles and shotguns. And, I'm pretty sure that (most) of our family, sisters included, would've had no problem getting them, and, using them, IF they felt the need to. If someone's trying to break into the house, it does little good to run and hide under a bed.

As for raising the age limit from 18 to 21, I think that, if they're going to do that, then the (mandatory) Selective Service (i.e., draft) age should also be raised. Personally, I would have a hard time telling an 18, 19, or 20-year-old, "You're old enough to go to war, if need be, but, you can't buy a rifle until you're 21".

Now, if an 18, 19, or 20-year-old, wanted to VOLUNTEER for the armed forces, that'd be up to them They'd just have to do so, understanding that their service wouldn't change the fact that they couldn't buy a rifle until they reached the age of 21.

Feb 27, 2018, 3:21pm Permalink
Brian Graz

These stats are reported by a very progressive, left-leaning website... vox.com.

"According to information collected by Everytown for Gun Safety, since 2009 there have been 156 mass shooting incidents — defined as four or more people shot and killed, not including the shooter.

Eleven mass shootings have been committed by men 21 and younger, and two of those (or 1.3 percent of the total) were committed using an assault rifle. Meanwhile, only one of those rifles were purchased legally.

A semiautomatic rifle was used in 11 of the 156, or 7 percent of events.

While two mass shootings might have been prevented by the change, this reform does nothing about the other 154."

https://www.vox.com/2018/2/27/17042228/age-limit-guns-florida-shooting-…

Feb 27, 2018, 3:52pm Permalink

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