First, psychologists and psychiatrists can't tell who will commit a violent crime and who won't.
Second, spree killers have been both younger and older than 18. And some of those younger than 18 simply stole their guns. In the case of Columbine, they obtained their guns using a straw purchaser (that is, they committed a federal felony to get their guns). A ban on concealed carry by 18-year-olds wouldn't have stopped them as a) they weren't 18, and b) they weren't legally carrying the guns that they used.
Third, you live in Vermont. In Vermont it is legal for 18-year-olds to carry a concealed handgun. And yet these problems that you assert will happen if 18-year-olds can carry a concealed gun aren't happening in Vermont.
Fourth, millions of people across this nation carry concealed on a daily basis. Many of them don't have significant training. And yet, guess what, all these problems that you assert will happen aren't happening.
Fifth, people who want to commit mass murder and die in the process aren't going to be stopped by another law. There is only one way to stop them.
Sixth, as for my own training, I have about 200 hours of formal marksmanship training (about 3 times what a MA police recruit gets in the academy). I compete regularly in IDPA and occasionally in USPSA. I'm classified as Expert in IDPA CDP, and I'm a C-class shooter in USPSA Single Stack. I'm an NRA certified instructor, NRA certified range officer, and an IDPA safety officer. I compete regularly with police officers and, frankly, I'm better than many of those officers, and they are better than the vast majority of police officers who only shoot once or twice a year during qualification. I am competent with a handgun, and, again, frankly, many police officers simply aren't.
Seventh, I don't have any idea what you are talking about with "utopia." It is precisely because the world is not (and never will be) a utopia that I carry a gun.
First of all, who the F said we needed medical professionals to intervene? Please show me where I specifically said we needed medical professionals to weed out the weaklings from applying for a gun permit / CC permit. Just because I said the words 'mental issues' does not automatically mean I'm talking about having the medical occupation involved in the 'screening process' (btw, screening someone certainly does not mean medical professionals are involved in this process, it can be conducted by other people of different occupations that's related to law enforcement, i.e. profilers, etc). Don't put words into my mouth when I didn't say anything about doctors getting involved in the screening process.
Second of all, granted that you can buy illegal guns by using the black market. Good for the ban on handguns to those that are 18+! That just means they need to try harder to find people who are willing to sell guns to them illegally, and chances are they'll have a tough time finding illegal guns. Also, despite the fact they (columbine shooters) bought illegal guns....guess who sold the AMMO needed to execute innocent people? Walmart. After Moore's film on 'bowling for columbine', Walmart decided to stop selling handgun ammunition. I'm not sure about past laws in Columbine regarding ammunition but these kids should have never gotten ammo without showing sufficient proof that they were certified in shooting handguns. But then it's Walmart we're talking about here. They aren't gun professionals or an organization under the eyes of gun control watchdog group (if there's one) so if they see an official form of ID then they will complete the sales transaction and sell the kids bullets. One of them was 18 so obviously that person was able to purchase ammo without having to show proof that they have a legal gun.
Third, again you are putting words into my mouth. How did you even come up with "Vermont" ? ? ? Are you talking about the mini info. on the left side of the thread? Go look up the link...
VT= Virginia Tech.
.edu = education. I attend Virginia Tech located in Blacksburg, Virginia. I do not live in Vermont, and never have lived in Vermont in the past. I live in Virginia, not Vermont. Sales of handguns are only available to those that are 21+ here in Virginia. Only 18+ years old kids can buy rifles of any kind, of course semi rifles at that, but they are not allowed to buy handguns. What problems are you saying I'm asserting will happen? I've only listed one possible scenario where I explained the details of the story. Are you talking about the massacres that ALREADY took place in the past? i.e. '99 & '07.
Fourth, millions of people across this nation carry concealed on a daily basis. Many of them don't have significant training. And yet, guess what, all these problems that you assert will happen aren't happening.
Forth of all, then they shouldn't be carrying concealed at all. There should be a law set in place where they require people with gun permits to complete their qualification requirements every 6 months or something as a positive reinforcement to those that wishes to keep their gun permits by visiting the shooting range often to stay in good shape before qualification day. Again, what are you talking about problems that aren't happening? I still need an answer to the first question regarding problems being asserted by me few lines above.
Fifth of all, absolutely. There is only one way to stop them and that is having a person with a concealed permit being available to protect innocent citizens by being there at the right place at the right time. I have no idea, statistically speaking, on how many people carry a concealed gun on them at all times in public places so if a massacre should take place (which I definitely do not wish to take place), then we all better hope there's someone with a concealed gun that will step up to the plate and handle things from there. If not, hopefully everybody will be able to hide in places & wait for law enforcement to respond to the incident where they neutralize the suspect & come to the rescue of those hiding from the gunman(s).
Sixth, that is great that you're overqualified with your training where you are clearly capable of handling such gun whether it's a handgun or a rifle. As you said earlier, police usually fire their handguns during qualifications. I was reading about an article a long time ago, and this officer who retired stated that he had never shot his gun more than two times throughout his 25 years of law enforcement so obviously it is very rare for officers to engage in incidents that includes shots being exchanged back and forth between officers and shooter(s). I do think officers should be proactive and try to visit the shooting range when they're off duty so they can keep their shooting skills in tip top shape. However, we all know they have second jobs if they're part time officers, or they have families/lives to handle so it can be difficult to take time out of their lives to take a trip down to the shooting range & on working on their shooting skills.
Lastly, I was talking about a Utopia where the world is a perfect place with laws that everyone agrees on. No laws will ever be perfect when it comes to guns, and the world will NEVER become a perfect place for everybody to live in because we have greedy people that's looking out for their companies', families, or their own interests rather than the society in general.
