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I was not being condescending. I was making a point using English vocabulary and trying to be a little bit light about it. There does need to be more uniformity and responsibility in privileges for children. For example, we have a huge problem with dropouts and functional illiterates. You want to drive a car? You have to be making passing grades in school at grade level to get a license at 16. You get to drive for 12 months and if you are still at grade level with at least a 2.0 gpa then you get another year. If you graduate with at least a 2.0 legitimate gpa then you get a regular license. Otherwise you don't get to drive until maybe 19. Most likely the dropout rate will nearly disappear.

The only thing I know is that the brain develops slowly and no matter how much we all think our own children are exceptional they are also children until sometime in their 20's when their brain finally finishes 'percolating'. What I don't know but highly suspect is that everyone speaking about their exceptional child who should have every right and privilege knows many other children of many other parents who are not nearly as exceptional as their own child. They know that while their exceptional child need not be worried about at all with the HEAVY responsibility imposed by the burden of carrying a firearm, the other definitely less exceptional children could and would be a worry being armed in proximity to their exceptional child.

I'm not suggesting restricting anyone else's children, only stating a reasonable reason for concern about those possibly exceptional children carrying around my actually exceptional children.

I understand other's opinions. It is a very tough thing. My girls were certainly smart enough and mature enough mentally for the task but they were not ready emotionally in the event of shooting someone. Nor would most teenagers be ready. Yes, there are 19 year olds who are police and military. Presumably, and hopefully, their training prepared them as well as assessing them for the readiness required. Yes, I know there are exceptions. I have two exceptional girls myself. But as a rule, and the majority of teens are the rule, teens are not ready.

I'm sorry but children, and teenagers are definitely children regardless of how much of an exception everyone thinks their own child(ren) is/are. I have two genius daughters who are brilliant and perfect. I would not have let them carry when they were 15/16 because as superior as they were to anyone else's average child they still were not ready for that responsibility. Neither are anyone else's less superior teenagers.

Yes, and that's the problem, maturity or the lack thereof which is difficult to determine and can't be quantified for the CHL process. Just commenting on what concerns me.

On the one hand I want every privilege we should have. On the other hand I know the brain doesn't fully finish developing until around age 25. I know many 19 year olds are mature and responsible most of the time but they are still teenagers who aren't fully mature. Having been one myself long ago, and knowing many many others, I'm not sure they are ready as a universal rule which this would be.

Good for them.