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November 13, 2005
Teenagers and guns
I think instead of treating gun-ownership like a drivers license, we might want to think about treating it more like alcohol, at least in terms of age. Obviously, you don't need a license to drink, which is not what I mean, but make people wait until they are 21 - and less impulsive - to legally own a gun. Sure, they can still go hunting with dad, but using his gun and with him along on the trip. Think of it as a learner's permit if you want to regulate it. When I read this article, the first memories that it brought to mind were not one but three incidents involving guns that happened among my otherwise normal classmates during my senior year in high school. The first one was almost exactly identical to the details below, same age range and same type of event, except that in that case the father ran for his own gun and instead of shooting him, the young man paused, never intending to shoot anyone. Then instead of killing him, the dad just grabbed the shot gun away from him. (The other two incidents both involved shots fired with hand guns, but neither really came close to hitting anyone). If you multiply that by a few thousand high schools nationwide, eventually something goes horribly wrong. From the AP:
LITITZ, Pa. - A 14-year-old girl was missing after her parents were shot to death in their home Sunday morning, and authorities were searching for her 18-year-old boyfriend, who reportedly abducted her at gunpoint.Michael and Cathryn Borden, both 50, were found shot to death shortly after 8 a.m., Lititz Police Chief William Seace said.
The couple's 9-year-old son David, the youngest of five children, had fled to a neighbor's house and called 911, Seace said. An older daughter still living at home and two adult sons were also safe, he said.
But Kara Beth Borden, 14, was missing. Police said she was last seen that morning at the family's home in Warwick Township, about 60 miles west of Philadelphia, and was reportedly abducted at gunpoint....
Stephanie Mannon, 16, said Ludwig and Kara Borden had been seeing each other secretly.
"Their parents didn't approve of them being together" because of the age difference, she said. "It wasn't because he was a shady character, because he wasn't."
Posted by Mike at November 13, 2005 06:36 PM
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