Teenagers, get ready to grab a gun in Missouri
Yael T. AbouhalkahGoing the wrong way on guns, Missouri wants to put more on the streets of Kansas City and other parts of the state.
Gee, what could go wrong?
A new bill introduced in the General Assembly would drop the age someone can carry a gun in the state from 21 to 19.
This is part of Missouri’s race to the bottom on gun control. Just two years ago, Missouri approved a bill dropping the age to carry a gun from 23 to 21.
To be clear, several states do have minimum ages of 18 or 19, but 21 has been effective in a majority of states under conceal carry laws.
There’s little doubt this bill will pass in Jefferson City, where Republicans hold sway in the House and Senate. Dozens already have indicated they don’t want to follow any new federal gun control rules, should those make it out of Washington, D.C.
So the General Assembly is going to flood the state with more guns, claiming that lawmakers are putting more killing machines in the hands of their sons and daughters to fend off criminals.
It would be great if the guns were actually used for that kind of positive outcome. But as countless stories indicate, the more guns in the hands of Americans, the more senseless deaths occur, which have nothing to do with “protecting ourselves.”
Mark Hastert
4 months agoCould this legislature be more wrong headed? We may have crumbling roads & bridges but by golly we’re gonna chase after every silly notion that’s out there. Why stop at 19? How about 16? After all if they can drive a potentially deadly car… maybe they can issue gun learner’s permits at 15.
Suzanne Conaway
4 months agoMark, I think a gun learner’s permit is really a great idea. However, I’d rather adults get these permits than teens.
Robert Copher
4 months agoAnd yet another example. lol.. This is too easy. Yael, have you figured out yet that the more you tell people they don’t need their weapons the more concerned they become? Keep doing what you’re doing and you will continue to get the opposit of what you want. Geez. You have no morality or sense of responsibility do you. You kept telling everyone how MO was the gutter of the country for its low cigarette taxation. they shot one down for you didn’t they. And now you are seeing the same response to your diregard for others in the gun debate. Hang in there buddy, you’ll get a clue someday.
Matt McKinley
4 months agoAn 18yr old can serve in the military and die to protect your rights to excrete the skreed you are paid to produce.
Phil Cardarella
4 months agoOK, I think concealed carry is DUMB, but…
It is hard to justify punishing as a FELONY behavior by an adult that is legal for an older adult — and it may well be unconstitutional as a violation of equal protection. The ONLY reason that the state can limit alcohol to those over 21 is because the US constitution specifically allows state to do so (followed by the Congress bullying the States to raise the age to 21, but that is another matter.)
Frankly, it is a bad idea to treat gun law violations as felonies when they do not involve an actual assault — just as it is dumb to treat most drug violations as felonies. Manufacturing felons is bad public policy.
Matt Henry
4 months agoIs “flood the state with more guns” a little over the top? Just a smidge?
Chris Howell
4 months agoThat
s all we need is a bunch of wound up teens walkinaround packin` heat!Dan Wood
4 months ago“An 18yr old can serve in the military and die to protect your rights to excrete the skreed you are paid to produce.”
As long as an 18 year old is serving in the military, I don’t care if they have concealed carry.
That should be the only way an 18 year old can conceal carry.
Phil Cardarella
4 months agoOK, don’t like concealed carry, but…
The question is can the State lawfully prosecute as a felon an 18 year old citizen for doing what a 21 year old can do lawfully? There is a Constitutional exception for alcohol, but nothing else.
After all, some 18 year olds are balanced and reliable and some 30 year olds are nutty as squirrel nests. What is the RATIONAL distinction for labelling the younger a felon for doing what the older is free to do?
Kent Mueller
4 months agoMatt, you beat me to that. Yael….this will “flood the state with more guns”?????? Really? Flood? Yael, sit back. Take a deep breath. Or, if you are right, then define “flood” and tell us how that will actually happen.
Please tell us, Yael. Please. We are waiting for your answer.