Home Categories About
argument top image
Should we have gun control? Should we have gun control?
Gun ownership should be controlled Gun ownership should be controlled
Guns should not be restricted in any way Guns should not be restricted in any way
Only the state should be allowed firearms Only the state should be allowed firearms
A bump stock ban is needed A bump stock ban is needed
Stringent background checks for gun ownership should be mandatory Stringent background checks for gun ownership should be mandatory
Mandatory training should be required for gun ownership Mandatory training should be required for gun ownership
Gun ownership should be limited to those over 21 Gun ownership should be limited to those over 21
Assault weapons should be banned Assault weapons should be banned
There should be a waiting period for gun ownership There should be a waiting period for gun ownership
The Second Amendment is a fundamental guarantee of individual liberty The Second Amendment is a fundamental guarantee of individual liberty
Guns don't kill people, people kill people Guns don't kill people, people kill people
Banning guns will ensure only criminals have access to them Banning guns will ensure only criminals have access to them
Gun control is a public health issue Gun control is a public health issue
Debate Mini Map

Should we have gun control?
Back to question

Gun ownership should be controlled

(1 of 3) Next position >

Gun ownership should be limited to those over 21

Only those over the age of 21 should be permitted to own a firearm.
Gun Control
Rick Scott Donald Trump
< (4 of 6) Next argument >

Context

Current federal law sets the minimum age of handguns to 21, but 18-year-olds can buy assault-style weapons like AR15s.[1] There are also loopholes which allow 18-year-olds to purchase handguns at a gun show or from private collectors. They can also legally receive them as a gift from a parent or guardian.

The Argument

The minimum age of all gun ownership should be increased to 21 and all loopholes that allow 18-year-olds to obtain weapons should be closed. Teenagers' brains are not yet fully developed, and they do not have the mental capacity or impulse control to own guns.[2] Teenagers brains are not fully developed and have difficulty in fully evaluating risk. Keeping guns out of the hands of teenagers may go some way towards reducing gun deaths. It could help prevent school shootings and make schools in the United States a safer place.[3] There is also evidence to suggest that it could reduce the rate of suicide.[4][5]

Counter arguments

Setting the legal age of procurement at 21 won't stop school shootings or mass killings. The average age of a mass shooter in the United States is 34.[6] As the 18-21 demographic is not the biggest culprit in mass shootings, there is no reason to limit their gun rights. Nor are they the biggest culprits in gun-related homicide cases. 18-21-year-olds commit far fewer firearm offences than the 20-24 demographic. Raising the minimum age of firearm ownership to 21 doesn't make any empirical sense. It is just an arbitrary age introduced by people who want to take guns away.[1] If anything, taking guns away from the 18-21 demographic leaves one of the most vulnerable segments of the population without protection. They are not the biggest gun offenders but are the biggest victims of gun-related crimes and violent crime more generally. This demographic needs guns for protection more than any other age group.[1]

Proponents

Framing

Older people are more likely to make good decisions.

Premises

[P1] Teenagers' brains are not fully developed to evaluate risk. [P2] They should not be permitted to own weapons.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] The 18-21 demographic is not the most dangerous gun-owning demographic. A rise in the minimum age for gun ownership would be unfair. They are actually the biggest targets of violent crime. Therefore, they need guns as protection more than any other age group.

Further Reading

Webster, Daniel W. “Association Between Youth-Focused Firearm Laws and Youth Suicides.” JAMA, vol. 292, no. 5, 2004, pp. 594–601. Crossref, doi:10.1001/jama.292.5.594.

References

  1. https://takecareblog.com/blog/do-18-year-olds-have-a-constitutional-right-to-guns
  2. https://www.thetrace.org/2019/02/rifle-purchase-age-gun-policy/
  3. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-wide-wide-world-psychology/201506/why-are-teen-brains-designed-risk-taking
  4. https://lawcenter.giffords.org/gun-laws/policy-areas/who-can-have-a-gun/minimum-age/
  5. https://www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/minimum-age/suicide.html
  6. https://www.heritage.org/firearms/commentary/6-reasons-gun-control-will-not-solve-mass-killings

In the Wild

This page was last edited on Monday, 26 Oct 2020 at 14:57 UTC

Explore related arguments