Old Enough to Fight, Old Enough to Drink

Pajamas Media ^ | August 26, 2008 | Michele Catalano

[Eagle Eye]

One has nothing to do with the other.

However...why can an 18 year old buy long guns and long gun ammo but not handguns or handgun ammo?

If you want to solve something, there is a good place to start.

[joe fonebone]

i was in the navy in the late ‘70’s, and it was 50 cents then........

[GT Vander]

And for yours sir. Everyday was a honor. (At least now when I look back and realize how good things were, at the time I’m sure there were days I questioned my decision to stay the course!)

[airborne]

I was 18 and able to drink while stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C., back in 1978.

I came home to PA on leave and was refused at the local bar (21 in PA back then too).

So I agree that if 18 is old enough to die for my country, then 18 should be man enough to have a beer.

[airborne]

At 16 you can legally drive (on the highways), so if you can legally drive why can’t you legally punch people in the mouth?

Boxers can, why can’t we?

You're joking, right? You can't be serious about such an analogy, can you?

[frithguild]

Ok - it was a little smarmy - but it makes the point!

I was 18 and legal and looking back I was not mature enough to handle it. Without good friends when I was 18, I probably would be far worse off than I am now for it.

Come to thinks of it, I was not mature enough at 30 - but that is a differnt matter altogether.

[frithguild]

Unless 18-year-old drinker wannabees go through a similarly rigorous training regimen re alcohol, its effects, and how to behave re drinking, they should have no more right to drink than an untrained civilian kid does to go into combat.

Argument for a "Drinker's License"?

[austrian]

this was posted from: TXnMA
not me ;-)

[GT Vander]

I had a similar experience while stationed in Alaska 76-79, the drinking age there was 18. I went back to PA on leave and was denied. That issue has bugged me for years, the double standard is just wrong. I have pushed the ID card standard at every chance ever since. BTW, I got mine at 17.

[airborne]

BTW, I got mine at 17.

If you're talking about your military ID, so did I. Joined right out of high school. I turned 18 standing guard duty.

[GT Vander]

“I turned 18 standing guard duty.”

I got Promoted to E-2 on my 18th birthday. We have much in common.

[airborne]

I went delayed entry. Got my E-2 early.

[Marie]

I find it horrifying that some of these wives are only 18 months older than my daughter. In one year, my husband will have soldiers the same age as our little girl.

My daughter is now an official part of our FRG. We were at some function and one of the soldiers asked his wife, “Who’s wife is *that*?”

It’s amazing the reaction the words “The First Sergeant’s Daughter” can get. ;-)

[Vaquero]

However...why can an 18 year old buy long guns and long gun ammo but not handguns or handgun ammo?

that is a bogus anti 2nd amendment law.

and I can legaly buy handguns and handgun ammo for my kids...I cant buy booze legaly for them.

to much government interferance in our lives.

[jagusafr]

Funny! My daughter’s young man is a midshipman at the Naval Academy and called to ask if he could date her. My daughter had told him what I do as a reservist - I didn’t think you could actually hear someone come to attention over the phone...

Colonel, USAFR