We applaud the Georgia Supreme Court for both affirming the Second Amendment while also asserting that the state has the right to place reasonable regulations on who may carry a concealable weapon and where.
The court unanimously decided that It will remain illegal for people under 21 to carry a handgun in most public places in Georgia, affirming that states may place certain limits on the right to bear arms.
This ruling, in no way, places any unreasonable restrictions on gun owners who have attained their majority, nor does it deny a teen the ability to use a firearm to hunt or participate in sport shooting.
Some may argue that our society allows people in their teens to join the armed forces and allow them to walk around with automatic weapons, so what is the difference?
There is a huge difference.
Military service and the recreational use of firearms involving those under age 21 are conducted in highly controlled environments where safety is of paramount importance.
We cannot think of any reason for a minor to be walking around with a concealed weapon in public, unless they are up to no good.
According to the National Institute for Mental Health, the human brain does not fully mature until age 25 or later. Critical thinking combined with cause and effect reasoning are among the last connections that are made.
In other words, it is at about age 25 when a young person can fully distinguish the difference between a video game and real life and the reality that they are not invincible.
We feel that even the most ardent defenders of the Second Amendment should recognize that this decision is based on pure common sense.
Georgia has a long history of upholding the right to bear arms, but all rights come with limitations, even our cherished right to free speech. If we want to see a reduction in gun crimes involving minors, then it is incumbent upon us to limit minors’ access to handguns.
