(06-22-2022 09:47 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 09:26 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 03:26 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I think the age to own firearms and the age to vote should be the same.

But there is a constituency that thinks the former should go up to exclude immature individuals, and at the same time thinks the latter should go down, as they are plenty mature enough.

This is very apt. Even when you adjust for the huge difference in magnitude of the outcomes, there is a massive order of magnitude between the number of people who buy guns legally and shoot up schools and the number of people who have no idea what they're really voting for and/or don't care. This isn't relegated to young people of course... but I think it is or can be exacerbated by youth. There are examples of 8yr olds who would be vastly more careful and responsible than most adults with both issues, and there are examples of 25 year olds who shouldn't be allowed to do either. Each side pulls out their anecdotes when it suits them and forgets them when it doesn't. In my mind, you are either an adult or you are not.... and while we can certainly make adjustments based on individual due process and/or substantive due process, I don't believe that you can demonstrate that 18yr olds are statistically more likely to commit mass shootings than 21 yr olds. Maybe you can and if so, that would be a reason to make a change. I FIrMLY believe that you could show that 21yr olds were more likely to be informed on parties and issues than 18 yr olds... but I may be wrong there as well.

there is a reason the Founding Fathers put minimum ages in the Constitution in order to serve in various elective offices, and they did so at a time when many teenagers were independent and self-supporting and the average age was much lower. They wanted at least a minimal amount of maturity in our elected officials.

While I see a world of difference between a 40 YO and a 18 YO, I see little difference between an 18 YO and a 21 YO, especially if the 18YO is maladjusted and/or crazy. Few people become well adjusted or sane between 18 and 21.

The point is, of course, that Democrats are inconsistent with their views on this, and it is directly related to their political goals. So, whatever advances the party agenda.

Do you think moving the voting age in concordance with moving the age for gun ownership is supported by Republicans but not Democrats? I'm not sure this is something that is partisan.