Another officer and I got to talking about this a while back and I’m just now getting around to posting on it. It seems that many states in the US have two different ages from which they judge you by. For instance, in Arkansas, if you are 18 then you are a legal adult. You can vote, you are arrested as an adult, you can now sign contracts on your own, including the contract to join the US military enabling you to fly to a foreign land and fight in a war. But, because you’re only 18 you can’t buy alcohol, you can’t ride a motor cycle without a helmet, nor can you cross the river into Mississippi and go gambling. For those privileges you have to be 21.
To me, and the officer I was discussing this with, this makes no sense. If someone is assumed to be competent by the court of law at 18, why do we have certain things that can’t be done until 21? I mean, if you can fight and die for your country, vote in a presidential election, take out a six figure mortgage on a house, all at 18… if you can do all these very important things that can impact your life for years to come (or even end it), why can’t you ride your Harley without a helmet, to the liquor store to buy some cheap beer after leaving the casino where you lost your paycheck betting on #27 on the roulette wheel?
I mean, if we have to have dual age laws, shouldn’t the simple things be the ones we get at 18 and the more complicated things hit us at 21? Have you seen the paperwork involved in getting a mortgage? And the current law trusts an 18 year old to handle that but doesn’t feel you’re capable of making an intelligent choice when it comes to when to stop drinking or when to wear a helmet? It makes no sense!
I say, do away with it! Lower everything to 18 or raise it all to 21. Otherwise it’s just stupid.
