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In Defense of "Underage" Drinking
Mercurial Times ^ | March 1, 2002 | Aaron Armitage

Posted on 03/04/2002 10:49:56 AM PST by A.J.Armitage

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To: A.J.Armitage
Your argument would also require that a three-year-old who accidentally kills his baby brother be arrested and charged with manslaughter or murder.

And why's that?

Because your essay suggested that there is no reason for a statutory age of majority, without which children and adults would be the same in the eyes of the law.

261 posted on 03/04/2002 9:40:03 PM PST by mrustow
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To: Texaggie79
No one is seriously suggesting to reduce the drinking age to 16 so your fears are unfounded.

As far as I know, there are only 2 things that an 18 year old can not do and that is buy alcohol and buy a handgun. All other privileges and responsibilities of adulthood are bestowed on them at 18.

262 posted on 03/05/2002 4:12:03 AM PST by Phantom Lord
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To: Texaggie79
The First Amendment did not apply to the states until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified. I believe it did, and I believe the founders agree with me. Why make a BoR that only applies to the Fed gov, which is supposed to be a very small faction with little function. The states are where criminal laws are tried. Why address cruel and unusual punishment, when the STATES are the majority of the prosecutors? The BoR have always applied to the States. The 14th just solidified that.
It's debatable whether it did or not before the 14th Amendment. For example the Congregational Church was not disestablished in Connecticut until 1818.

Once the Fourteenth was ratified, it was no longer debatable.

-Eric

263 posted on 03/05/2002 4:21:37 AM PST by E Rocc
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To: shellylet
Well call me a smart-a$$, but I think you're a dumb-a$$ if you believe young people are going to sit in their homes and drink and never end up getting into a car to drive it! You're not so old that you shouldn't remember doing stupid things when you were younger!

I'm just saying I'd rather err on the side of protecting innocent victims from immature, irresponsible people

By your logic we should ban alcohol, since even older people might drink and then get into a car.

Perhaps then we should ban skydiving, because these "immature, irresponsible people" might land on someone.

-Eric

264 posted on 03/05/2002 4:23:51 AM PST by E Rocc
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To: Phantom Lord
All other privileges and responsibilities of adulthood are bestowed on them at 18.

Rent a car, some counties, you have to be 21 to purchase XXX material. Some states you must be 19 to buy cigarettes. Gotta be 35 to run for president......

265 posted on 03/05/2002 7:07:20 AM PST by Texaggie79
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To: JoeGar
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has led Congress down this stupid path. A pox on MADD!

See post #229.

266 posted on 03/05/2002 9:05:42 AM PST by bassmaner
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To: MudPuppy
They are able to drink at 18 on base just not hard liquor. The Marine Corps (at least while I was in) seems to even encourage it.

EBUCK

267 posted on 03/05/2002 9:06:29 AM PST by EBUCK
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To: EBUCK
"They are able to drink at 18 on base just not hard liquor."

that is INCORRECT.
As a former Marine and a current govt contractor that works on a Marine base I can tell you that Bases follow the state & Federal laws.
Back in the day you could drink beer & wine in NC if you were over 18 and hard liquor if you were over 21.
That rule no longer applies. Everyone has gone to a 21 yr old age limit for any alcohol.

Many Enlisted Clubs are closed and the whole Club system is shot because of this and the crackdown on drinking in the military.

268 posted on 03/05/2002 9:23:46 AM PST by MudPuppy
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To: MudPuppy
I didn't know that it had changed. I haven't been on a base since '95. Seems that the nanny trickle down effect has finally trickled down our boys' way. Seriously out of wack.

EBUCK

269 posted on 03/05/2002 9:27:38 AM PST by EBUCK
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
Ouch.
270 posted on 03/05/2002 9:49:14 AM PST by A.J.Armitage
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To: mrustow
Because your essay suggested that there is no reason for a statutory age of majority, without which children and adults would be the same in the eyes of the law.

Just for this one area, not for everything. I certainly wouldn't say a three year old can consent to have sex, for example.

271 posted on 03/05/2002 9:53:21 AM PST by A.J.Armitage
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To: A.J.Armitage
Hmmm...interesting perspective--why sex but not drinking?
272 posted on 03/05/2002 10:27:25 AM PST by LibertyGirl77
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To: LibertyGirl77
There's a difference between child molestation and drinking. If a little kids drinks, it's no different from anything else under parental authority, since it's just a matter of discipline, presuming it's without permission in the first place. If a child is molested, however, that's a crime, since there's a victim and a victimizer. If there's no guilty party because both are underage, it's back to being a parental matter.
273 posted on 03/05/2002 10:47:17 AM PST by A.J.Armitage
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To: A.J.Armitage
Oh, okay. I thought you meant you thought it should be illegal for 15 year olds to have sex but not to drink. That was strange to me.
274 posted on 03/05/2002 11:38:51 AM PST by LibertyGirl77
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To: A.J.Armitage
Arguments usually hypes the extremes, exceptions are aberrations. It does not make the legislation created have force. Parents that want to give a child a watered down glass of wine on special occasions will continue to do so. It is teaching a proper way to relate to alcohol.

It is not drinking at 18 or 20 that is the problem. It is the indiscriminate use (over indulging) that is the danger. Many young people have insufficient development to be cognizant of the risks. Common sense, please.

"Abuse" is the entry to 'micro managing' the people. We are willingly giving away our freedom. On one hand the government is giving us medical care and we welcome it and receive it: the other hand comes with all sorts of rules and regulations tied to the medical care. Just like schools ... or any other program you want to look at thoroughly.

Haven't we figured out how this game is played. Evidently not. We keep thinking we are getting more than we are giving away. WRONG!

It is about POWER and MONEY. The government's ... and ours. They get more and more ... we give more and more. ... they win ... we lose. We are aiding and abetting our own loss of freedom and liberty.

275 posted on 03/06/2002 11:57:11 AM PST by Countyline
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To: A.J.Armitage
I got drunk on champaign on New Year's Eve when I was one year old with no ill effects.

Why not just tape a sign on the seat of your pants that says "KICK ME"?

276 posted on 03/08/2002 10:17:29 PM PST by freebilly
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To: A.J.Armitage
Yes, that means no drinking age whatsoever.

When my 15 year old son gets your 11 year old daughter drunk and has "consensual" sex with her, come tell me about "coercively achieved social perfection" and let me laugh at you.

The lawyers will love a society like the one you envision.

277 posted on 03/08/2002 10:28:01 PM PST by freebilly
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To: freebilly
That sort of thing happens now.
278 posted on 03/09/2002 5:21:41 PM PST by A.J.Armitage
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To: A.J.Armitage
That sort of thing happens now.

Let me know when it happens to your daughter.

279 posted on 03/09/2002 10:42:59 PM PST by freebilly
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To: freebilly
And if it does, would you have me blame a policy preference of mine that isn't in place, or the policy that is in place now?
280 posted on 03/09/2002 11:07:38 PM PST by A.J.Armitage
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