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Concealed Carry for Young Adults
Posted by Junior Shooters
By: Caleb Cooper (14) 
(See editor’s notes at bottom)
Photos are not of Caleb but of various juniors who write for Junior Shooters magazine.
Almost all gun owners support the right for all citizens to own firearms. Among this group of individuals most believe young people should be trained from an early age to shoot. In this community many encourage self defense, but almost none feel that young people should be trained, or allowed to use firearms to defend themselves. This idea is too radical and many see it as absurd. Some may say that there are no threats to minors that warrant the use of deadly force; others say young people are not mature enough to responsibly use firearms. Remarkably, all these things are also said of persons over the age of eighteen.
Many people have downplayed the serious threats to minors. All one has to do is watch the news to see the alarming rate of crime against young people, such as sexual assaults, kidnappings, and other acts of violence. Criminals rarely observe an age limit. Many are outraged at child molestations, killings, etc, against people that are underage but no one stops to think “If that sixteen year old had a firearm they’d still be alive today.” (Many would not object if an individual carried a firearm and used it in any of the situations mentioned above if the victim had been a few years older.)
Another argument against young adults being approved to carry permits for concealed weapons is that adolescents are not mature enough. I am not suggesting that small children be given guns, but I am suggesting that anyone who owns a firearm should be responsible enough to use it. But if an individual can pass a concealed carry course, why should they be denied a permit?
One fact that stands as one of the most unjust restrictions in all governmental policy is thus: from the age of 18 you can be drafted, liable for taxes, can be sued, and are legally considered an adult. In contrast, at this age you are unable to obtain a concealed carry permit, or even own, or purchase, a handgun. This age is considered an adult in almost every way but this. Even though an individual carries the burden of society and faces full responsibility in a court of law for their actions, they cannot legally defend themselves or their family until they are 21. 
I believe that the right to defend your self is a fundamental part of human nature. In short, the rights of human nature are deeply wounded by this infamous practice. Most gun owners give little thought to young people defending themselves.
I would be very surprised if many shared my views on the subject. But the fact remains: young people are capable of self defense and are targets for criminals mainly because we are perceived as weak victims, but this is not their fault. They have the capacity to defend them selves responsibly. What have they done to forfeit the right?
Editor’s Note: The author presents some interesting questions that are quite controversial but are well worth contemplation. I disagree with part of the author’s first paragraph: “Among this group of individuals most believe young people should be trained from an early age to shoot. In this community many encourage self defense, but almost none feel that young people should be trained, or allowed to use firearms to defend themselves.” Many of the people I know in the shooting industry believe juniors should be trained and actually most shooting sports provide some amount of such training; some more than others such as action shooting disciplines. 
However, the “right” of someone below the age of 21 to have a concealed carry permit is another matter. At what age should there be restrictions to gun ownership or gun carry. It seems to me that if an individual can be drafted and have the possibility of dying defending their country at the age of 18 they should also have the right to bear arms as a 
civilian, and thus be allowed a concealed carry permit if they pass all of the qualifications. Providing people younger than 18 the right to have concealed carry permits will take some further thought on my part. It is a very difficult subject. Even if there were enough people to vote to make it happen, I expect the reality of life today would mean it would only be approved with some restraint and additional qualifications.
Please feel free to email me, Andy Fink, your opinions at publisher@juniorshooters.net
Copyright & Published By: Junior Shooters & Junior Sports Magazines Inc. Dec 2009
Andy –
Interesting (and well-written) article, but I have to disagree, simply because however “grown-up” teens think they are, they still aren’t. Following is a link to a report that explains my reasoning, but here’s a clip from the first paragraph:
“New findings show that the greatest changes to the parts of the brain that are responsible for functions such as self-control, judgment, emotions, and organization occur between puberty and adulthood. This may help to explain certain teenage behavior that adults can find mystifying, such as poor decision-making, recklessness, and emotional outbursts.”
Here’s the link to that report:
Adolescent Brain Development: http://www.actforyouth.net/document/YDM%20pdf2.1C.pdf
The part of the brain that deals with self-control, judgement, etc., doesn’t even finish developing until sometime in the early 20s.
So not only do I think teens shouldn’t be able to get a CCW permit, I’ll go even farther and say I don’t think 18 year olds should be joining the military or even voting. I would support bumping that age up to 21, at least.
Thanks Jay, for the information and your thoughts. I agree.
Hello, it looks like your site is up and coming in the
Here’s a couple thoughts Jay,
I (Sarah) am almost 18. I’ve been shooting most of my life and i’ve been competitive in numerous shooting venues for almost 7 years. But despite my experience I can’t get a CCP because I’m not 21. I could join the military and fight over seas, but i can’t take a simple training course and get a concealed carry permit when I know i am sufficiently qualified to carry safely. So when I go running in my neighborhood, which is in the country, I can’t protect myself from dogs, wild animals, or people who have the intention of hurting or even taking my life. And i know pepper spray isn’t gonna do me a thing of good against a rabid dog or drug crazed lunatic.
I think there should be a law enforcement supervised training course for 18 through 21 age people to get a special concealed carry permit. The permit should be granted on a case by case basis by the local sheriff who already has the right to revoke the permit at any time for just cause. The 18-21 age permit should also have special restrictions such as specific areas or locations where the person cannot carry, and the permit should ONLY cover the gun that the person trained with in the course and that was okayed by the instructor/sheriff.
From an anatomical stand point the human brain hasn’t reached full maturity until the age of 21 (the reason for the set age of legal alcohol consumption) due to incomplete myelenization of brain cells. Yet at age 18 citizens are legally defines as adults, so shouldn’t we be able to protect ourselves like adults? just food for thought…….
I don’t think it is a very good idea. Don’t think of your exceptionally mature eighteen old, think rather of an average eighteen year old. Do you think they have the maturity and judgementa of an adult? There is something to be said for the experience of an adult mind. Think of yourself at eighteen Did you have the maturity and good judgement to be carring concealed? The fact that you can go into the Service at eighteen isn’t so much a matter of your good judgement at that age as it is a factor of your physical condition and the fact that you are much more trainable for the purpose of hte Service at that age. I know that was the case for myself at eighteen. I was a pretty gungho trooper and was much more likely to react with out considering the effect of my action than I was as a somewhat older person It is always a judement call as to where you set the age of adulthood but in this case, in my opinion, it is probably best left at twentyone
I don’t expect many eighteen year olds will agree with me; I wouldn’t have at eighteen either
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great experience, dude! thanks for this great post wow… it’s very wonderful report.
Thank you for your interest. We would need to see what you would want to republish so it is not taken out of conext and have you provide credit to Junior Shooters. You can contact me, Andy Fink, directly at publisher@juniorshooters.net.