All of this recent discussion about guns and personal safety got me thinking about age and carrying and operating a gun. Our abilities, reflexes and faculties diminish as we age. At some point, all of us, if we lived long enough, should stop driving a car or use other equipment. I think the same goes for other things that require strength, dexterity and a sound clear mind - like guns. If we are not able to use a gun with a strong degree of accuracy and good judgement, we should not carry or use one. What do you think?
Guns and age
- Thread starter SparkleEyes
- Start date
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Well I would feel better with a gun but I also wouldnt mind just adults having one. I dont believe that anyone should be able to openly buy guns. I think that everyone should be able to make a permit for a small gun starting at 16 and others with 18+. If you wanna do the permit you should surely make a test if you are mentally able to carry a gun (just that no crazy person gets one ..)
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Anyone over age 75 should be tested and restricted according to their medical conditions such as Parkinsons, Alzheimers, dementia, reflexes etc. But I don't know of many 75 yo people who go around shooting others so probably just limit their driving....b/c by the time they got to defend themselves with a gun(by getting it) they probably would be done in anyway...
you just can't move as fast when you're older 70's and up than when your younger than 60 or so....
you just can't move as fast when you're older 70's and up than when your younger than 60 or so....
okay gotcha. Just make it worth getting old like that in this day and age.
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My Dad is 73 and in really bad health, and while it isn't my place to tell my own Father no for anything, his lack of strength makes it difficult for him to manipulate the slide on his handgun, and he has slow reaction time. He also can't grip tight enough and ends up getting feed issues from limp wristing the pistol as it cycles.
I don't have any of these issues, but some would say that given my mental faculties that I ought not to own firearms.
I don't have any of these issues, but some would say that given my mental faculties that I ought not to own firearms.
All I know is that a couple of weeks ago I got my behind wooped by a pistol pack'n mama in her 80's in a three person competition. I'm not a bad shot either (once beat a marine with his own pistol)(he was angry), but she had to be using whatever pension money she had on weekly range time and ammo. Best shooter I've ever had the pleasure of going toe to toe with in a pickup match.
If someone, for reasons of health (age-related or not), cannot safely operate a handgun, then they should leave the protecting to other able-bodied members of the family.
If someone, for reasons of health (age-related or not), cannot safely operate a handgun, then they should leave the protecting to other able-bodied members of the family.
I understand your reasoning but I don't remember ever hearing about someone getting shot because an older person mishandled a gun. What I do hear is young guys who accidentally shoot themselves while taking a selfie or sometimes while cleaning or demonstrating without knowing there is a round left in the chamber. Also, kids getting hold of their parent's gun and accidentally shooting someone.
...and I am 99% sure that is Tom Selleck... but who knows, maybe he's his twin.
...and I am 99% sure that is Tom Selleck... but who knows, maybe he's his twin.
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Hahahaha, I wish! It's Tom Selleck when he starred in Magnum PI.
I've been getting in to Blue Bloods lately and found a whole new appreciation for his range as an actor. He has the manly, law-enforcement/soldier of fortune vibe of say Chuck Norris, but couples it with an emotional range that ages pretty well.
To bring things full circle, Selleck is 71 years old and a gun rights advocate. In fact, his fan mail address is at the NRA HQ in Fairfax, Virginia.
I assume he is spry enough to operate a handgun.
I've been getting in to Blue Bloods lately and found a whole new appreciation for his range as an actor. He has the manly, law-enforcement/soldier of fortune vibe of say Chuck Norris, but couples it with an emotional range that ages pretty well.
To bring things full circle, Selleck is 71 years old and a gun rights advocate. In fact, his fan mail address is at the NRA HQ in Fairfax, Virginia.
I assume he is spry enough to operate a handgun.
I'd say that is geography-dependent. Where I live, most fatal ND stories are older people cleaning their older pistols and forgetting there is a round in the chamber. I think though that it has more to do with the complexity of those older pistols than it does the general age of the people cleaning them.
Kids killing themselves does make more sense though in areas without a gun culture. They are not raised with the same gun safety training that they do where I live. That mystery makes them treat it like a toy and "boom."
It would be interesting to see the stats. Either way, follow the four rules!
Kids killing themselves does make more sense though in areas without a gun culture. They are not raised with the same gun safety training that they do where I live. That mystery makes them treat it like a toy and "boom."
It would be interesting to see the stats. Either way, follow the four rules!
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