Oklahoma looking to lower carry age

Sebastian points to an article that would indicate that OK is looking to lower the necessary age to get a carry permit from 21 to 18.

He’s correct that Indiana allows carry for 18 year olds, since in this state it’s legal for an 18 year to posses a handgun, just not purchase one.  I’m in favor of legislation and rules like this, because I honestly feel that if the government thinks you’re responsible enough to die for your country, or responsible enough to have a say in the elected representatives of this nation, than you should certainly be old enough to provide for your own safety if you so choose.

You should also be old enough to have a beer, but that’s a different discussion.

5 Comments

  1. I agree on all points, especially your last. I grew up in the era where 18-year-olds could drink, and it certainly didn’t do me any harm.

    Hic!

    Oops. ‘Scuse me.

  2. Actually, you can be as young as 17 and join the military (with parental permission or emancipation) and be given a handgun to carry. Seems odd to me that you can’t do the same thing if you’re a civilian. The background check to get in the service isn’t all that restrictive, certainly not as tough to pass as the standard NICS check.

    As for drinking… not that I’m in favor of the government being my nanny or anything like that… there’s a whole lot of evidence the alcohol before about the age of 21 causes considerably more damage to the liver and brain than it does after that age. We’re talking order of magnitude more damage from the same amount of alcohol. It has something to do with the organs not being really fully developed until that time.

  3. “but that’s a different discussion.”

    I’m not sure that it is inherently different. It’s about being treated like an adult and giving freedom to choose back to all adults. I don’t think it would be done through one bill, but I think the conversation is going to be the same.

  4. Indeed, I view the issue as linked, but the discussion would be different because we’d be arguing with MADD instead of Million Mom March; I think there would be even less popular support for lowering the drinking age to 18.

    Unless of course you could actually get a bunch of 18 year olds galvanized enough to get out and vote for something.

  5. I wonder how many states issue pistol permits to 18 year olds. Connecticut used to, as I got one back in the early ’80’s shortly after graduating from high school. Of course, Connecticut is not as free as it used to be.

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