Posted: 2/16/2005 1:38:38 AM EDT
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Waiting period for young people? State lawmakers are debating a bill that would require young people aged 22 and under to wait 10 days before purchasing a firearm. Would you support this law? No: 52.27% Yes: 43.89% Don't care: 2.13% Not sure: 1.70% Total Votes: 704 Have at... Gun Poll |
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Here's a copy of the letter I sent to the reporter of the story: "Mr. Carrier, I would like to take the time to contact you to voice my opposition to the proposed measure of enacting a waiting period for individuals under the age of 22 attempting to purchase a firearm. Such a measure is a heavy-handed method of dealing with a problem that does not exist. Aside from infringing on one's Second Amendment rights, this proposed legislation is emotionally charged and inadequately supported. I would like to direct your attention to the fifth paragraph of the article, which reads: "Harverson showed the committee a framed portrait of her late son, Thomas, who was 18 when he committed suicide on Sept. 23 in Pittsburgh, Pa., with a pistol he had taken from his father's apartment." I ask you this, if a measure such as the one that has been proposed had been in effect before this tragedy occurred, how would it have prevented this young man from taking his own life? It clearly states that the young man took the handgun from his father's apartment. If he had gone out and bought a handgun the day he took his life, perhaps there would be grounds for this argument. Though I am not familiar with the details of this tragedy, it is painfully obvious that this man was intent on ending his life, no matter the measures taken. The father had obtained the handgun perfectly legally and yet the son went and used it on himself. Such a measure restricting age would not have stopped this young man from using his father's firearm against himself. I appreciate you for taking the time to read this. Have a good day. Sincerely, Rory D----" |
can an 18 year old legally buy a handgun? |
In private party sales, yeah. Not from a dealer..... 
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Regardless the RKBA issues involved, I have to think that anyone who's going to go out, spend a bunch of money on a firearm and off themselves is a little screwed in the head. Seems to me, they would/will be screwed in the head if they're any age....... Granted many teenagers sink to this level of depression easily sometimes but I'd feel the parents are the ones who're tasked to notice this... The signs are RARELY less than obvious when someone is seriously depressed and mom & dad would have to be blind, deaf and/or just plain stupid to not know what's going on, in such an instance..... I just don't see the difference between 18 & 22........ If you're not right in the head, you're not right.. It just don't go away on your 22nd birthday....  |
I agree w/ you, but remember, many of the anti-firearm studies call 21 year olds "children". I kinda think that's alot of the alleged "logic" behind 22. So they can VOTE, they can carry a firearm in Afganistan or Iraq, but not in the U.S. of A.!  |
