In the comments section of a previous post, MudKitty asked "Do you guys/gals think there should be gun regulations for teens?" My answer is going to include some law, some personal views and commentary, and some images by Oleg Volk.
Let us start with the law. The Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits the sale of a shotgun or rifle by a Federal Firearm License holder to a person under the age of 18. This law also prohibits that license holder from selling a handgun to a person under the age of 21.
b) It shall be unlawful for any licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to sell or deliver --
(1) any firearm or ammunition to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than eighteen years of age, and, if the firearm, or ammunition is other than a shotgun or rifle, or ammunition for a shotgun or rifle, to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than twenty-one years of age;
The Texas Penal Code makes it an offense for anyone to sell a firearm to a person that is less than 18 years old:
§ 46.06. UNLAWFUL TRANSFER OF CERTAIN WEAPONS.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person:...
2) intentionally or knowingly sells, rents, leases, or gives or offers to sell, rent, lease, or give to any child younger than 18 years any firearm, club, or illegal knife;
Texas also has restrictions on giving a minor, 17 years old or younger, unsupervised access to a firearm.
As you can see, teens are already very well regulated when it comes to firearms. There are laws, and more laws concerning children and firearms. Each state has enacted it's own laws, most are more restrictive than the federal.
That was the law, now for the personal views. Do I think there should be gun regulations for teens?
I believe that the State has the right to regulate the sale of firearms to individuals prior to their reaching the age of majority. Note that I said "sale" of firearms. The use of firearms by teens or children should be regulated by their parents. Parents have the responsibility to raise their children, they have the obligation to instruct and teach their children many of life's lessons, including the safe handling of firearms. The parents know their children the best, and they know when their children are ready to accept different responsibilities. There are folks who will not like that answer. This is the age of relieving parents of their responsibilities towards their children, about making excuses for poor behavior and bad choices. But that is a topic for another day.
MudKitty, I hope that answered your question about my thoughts about firearm regulations for teens. I believe you live in California, if you would like I can point you to the California regulations concerning youth and firearms.
9 comments:
Gosh, thank you. I'm very flattered indeed.
So I take it, the answer is "yes." Thumbs up on gun regulations for teens.
*****
My nephew was legally an adult at 19 when he accidentally shot himself. So I don't consider him a teen, even though he was hanging out with other teens at the time of his death.
I wonder if any of the kids at the scene had been taught gun safety, and were just too intimidated to say "Hey, stop it!"?
Now all we have to do is determine the "age of majority"
Good point. What say you?
I say, when you're an adult, you're an adult, and that's it.
Sorry, that was stupid. I meant, that, um, actually, 18 vs 21...magic numbers...? I don't really know what to think about the age of majority.
Then you get into issues of drinking, sex, voting and military recruitment.
I need to think about this a little more.
There is also the question of Federal vs States rights concerning setting an age of majority.
If you are old enough to join the military, you are old enough to drink a beer, drive a car, choose your sex partner, vote and purchase the firearm of your choice.
I would not have a problem with setting this age at 18.
Nor I. But you gotta admit, it is a "magic" number, and there are many 18/19/20/50 year olds who are dumb as rocks. But as for rights and responsibilities, I'm down for 18, even if it is a little young.
I think Jr., if I may address you such, that the only thing I disagree with you on is the part where you wrote "now all we have to do..."
Hi, Victoria Texas-I'll becoming down to visit you nice gun toters. Can't wait to tote my 44 on my hip with it tie down raw hide attach to my right leg. Just Kidding, but I could if I wanted to-Right? That must be a great feeling knowing you have the right to carry protection in case you might need it one day. Where I come from it's run by the Democrats, or the Democratic Party and we dont have the right or the privilege to bare arms in the North. How lucky you are that you don't have a person, who is a Democrat who will lie to you and tell you that he'll support your rights to bare arms. Be careful of the wolf in sheep clothing. Democrats will do that to you in order to get into office. Don't have your liberties taken away. Be careful who you vote for.
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