As you progress in years you're going to learn that lots of laws don't make sense. I am not sure about this but I would think that if you enlist and do go to a warzone where you are risking "getting your freakin head blown off" the laws of that region would apply. So if I am right about that, you could have your refreshing cold beer before you head home. Next, for those who have lost loved ones or those of us who haven't, lets try calling it something like "sacrificing your life for your country" or even "killed in action" rather than "getting your freakin head blown off". Just a bit more respectful. Hang in there deadeye, just 3 more years and you can legally drink and buy handguns.

I do agree with you. I feel that if you are old enough to vote, go to war, get married and have kids. Then yes you should be able to buy a hand gun or a beer if you want.

I'm probably going to get some flack about this but this is how I feel about it. I know that the reasoning for the laws are about maturity. However, if that person is mature enough for all the other things that they can do then they should be mature enough for the rest.

Careful what you wish for, I used to be gungho just like you but "good things come to those who wait". The older I got, the more I understood why we had these laws. You may be mature enough to drink and mature enough to own/shoot a handgun, but I would have to say a good 90% of the 18yr. olds out there aren't! Just bide your time and enjoy life. Besides, it seems like your doing a good job at getting around the laws anyway.

When I was 18 here in Arkansas, I was always packing a Super Blackhawk® 44 Mag in a Western style holster. After getting gas I would walk in, get a 62oz Coke and pay for it all and never had any problem even with the Local and State Law Enforcement standing there. Last August I was in the same store in Ft Smith Arkansas just down the road a block from my Father’s house and the owner recognized me and said, I sure miss you coming in with that cannon on your hip. We have had a lot of problems since you moved. By the way she said in a low curious voice, what are you caring these days? I looked at her, smiled and discreetly showed her my Springfield XD45 ACP. She smiled and said, thanks for coming in and hope to see you more!

Times have changed, outsiders have moved into this State, bringing in there riffraff and pushed their agenda in. It’s getting worse, but not in my neighborhood and those I know!

“If you're a liberal, anything you say is protected. If you're a conservative, anything you say is hateful.”
-Laura Schlessinger

“But I don't want to defend myself.”
-reportedly uttered by a Brady Law supporter

Well, just looking at your post, and your attitude of your post, regardless of age, you're just the type I worry about.

You mistake age with maturity, and I'm not sure with that attitude, you should use "gun" and "beer" in the same sentence.

The reason that the drinking age has crept back up to 21 from 18 is the reckless abandonment many teenagers use. Drunk driver statistics were enough to convince even me. In the last ice age, most of us older guys have at least one story of a few beers and the drive home. Some days I'm amazed I'm still alive.

Also, don't mix up "old enough" and "qualified and trained for"...

I was stationed as an 18-year-old in California, which is a 21 state. However, flashing a green ID got me served anywhere. And, all service members can go to on-base clubs, generally within walking distance of their barracks. On a Army base once, They even had beer in vending machines in the rec room!

So you can chill out. And I apologize to the others for not mincing around this.

It is sad to say but those restrictions have come about from the "riff-raff" of people. I do believe that it is ridiculous that you can serve in the war at 18 but can not drink nor have/posess a handgun when you are 18. But that is how some things are in this country. You just got to live with the laws given, even if they do not make any sense.

I know a lot of 21 year olds that can't handle either...

sorry bud, but we've all had the same cross to bear. time will pass and you'll get over it.

Agreed with DanInArkinsaw answer above and A + 1 for you sir!!!