Many parts of the country don’t allow people to drink under the age of 21. One state is considering raising the age at which people can buy cigarettes to 21.
No matter what you think about these laws, I think that you’ll agree that it seems ridiculous that we allow people to serve in the military at the age of 18 (in fact, all men in the U.S. have to register for selective service so they can be drafted if a draft is reinstated), but states won’t allow that same adult (who will be trained to fire an M16 in the military) to carry concealed.
Fortunately, one state agrees and is moving to lower the age for concealed carry to 18. Lara Korte writes,
The Kansas House on Tuesday moved to expand gun rights, passing a bill that would lower the age of concealed carry to 18 and allow Kansas to recognize similar licenses issued by other states.
The measure, hotly debated for almost two hours before passing by a voice vote, will likely receive a final passage on Wednesday.
Advocates rejected arguments that the bill could endanger lives.
“We’re not training people to go into combat and to kill people,” said Rep. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston. “We are training people for self-defense.”Kansas law has what is called constitutional carry, or the right to carry a firearm in any capacity, for residents 21 and older. A concealed carry license, available to those who complete required training, allows the holder to carry in states that have reciprocal agreements with Kansas.
Under the new law, the minimum age for concealed carry training would drop to 18. Residents who don’t receive a license at 18 would still be allowed constitutional carry in the state at age 21.
Supporters said the bill said it’s about having protection when “crazy” happens.“I happen to have a 19 year old daughter who wishes very much to have the opportunity to protect herself in her time of need,” Owens said.
Owens gets it, and it would appear that the state legislature in Kansas (overall) gets it, too.
Now, we need to campaign in our own states to have this kind of common sense gun legislation put into place. The life that you save when a crazy thing happens may be your own.