By VERNON N. KERRLos Alamos
Legislators have been known to do ridiculous things and a majority of Florida’s legislators have done so along with their governor.
They have assumed that acts of violence using a firearm are age related or cynically a trick to weaken the Second Amendment is in their sights. They have forbidden sales of firearms to persons ages 18 to 20 purely on the basis of age. This denies them their rights under the Second Amendment placing them with a class of persons forbidden the right to bear arms for cause. The forbidden class is that which consists of the insane, idiots, statutorily immature, ajudicatedly forbidden or criminal.
How now will this class of 18 to 20 year old citizens feel about enlisting in the armed forces with their constitutional rights removed legislatively, a process denying a right, that a person other than this newly created class, has with the individual right secured for others. These 18 to 20 year olds can die for their country but cannot be a fully covered by citizen rights under the constitution. Seventeen year olds can also serve their country and a case can be made for them regarding firearms.
One should deeply resent this action by the Florida legislature. It reflects upon all legislative bodies where sadly to say knee jerk legislation sadly may be passed. As for the young people who have been pressing for legislation they should first learn about government in a civics class and not be carried away with emotion. Civics classes seem to be passé and have been replaced with social studies. Young minds with sound education in government would be welcome for they have the capacity and energy to pursue reality. Not knee jerk action.
What has been accomplished, vis-a- vis, as to respect for the law when all that has been done is to stigmatize this class of 18 to 20 year old law abiding citizens.
The NRA is certainly on solid ground to challenge the Florida statute.
