tell me this, out of curiosity, if we say the 2nd is absolute and applies to all citizens then why are 10 yo not allowed to buy/own guns, 8yo?

when the 2nd was written you had probably been shooting since you could hold the musket, I will bet most 12 yo could out shoot most if not all of us on here.
they knew how to handle the weapon since it was needed for food/defense etc.

now some kid that thinks they are a hot shot on call of duty will think they know how to handle a 1911 or an ar etc. when they may never have even held a real one.
there were also not 350 million people in this country with most of them living in a metro area or the burbs, point being times have changed and just turning people loose with no knowledge imo is not a good idea.
if it is infringement to simply prove you know what you are doing then I guess I will change my affiliation to liberal/socialist and start voting that way.
I consider it a personal responsibility thing.

However you need to justify the infringement.

I will just continue to disagree with ya, head to dereks and tell him I said you get a natty on me.

I guess I feel like if I have to prove that I can shoot and know how to handle a weapon then it would be nice if I was semi sure everyone knew.

Hop i think i get where you are coming from.

But say there is a test. Who controls who gets the test, how much it costs, if its free who pays, who teaches etc. It turns into a whole beurocracy of permitting etc.

A better test?

Who has the right to defend themself and where does that right come from?

can you defend yourself if you do not know how to lock a round when needed in a hurry? pull it with finger on trigger and shoot yourself in the thigh?
I have not a problem one with the current system Tx. has, with rights come responsibilities and the responsibility attached to killing someone should be the supreme one.

Okieland was almost the same as far as class/testing, saw 2 women in class that had not a clue how to handle a weapon and one had never even held one. instructor gave her some extra pointers on the range and when she left she at least had an idea how lethal the gun in her purse was.

being able to do something does not mean squat if you don't know what you are doing.

I am very comfortable with my shooting/carry knowledge cuz I made it a point to learn the laws involved and have been shooting a long long time, this was 3 13 rnd magazines from the glock 23 when I did my class, as far back as lake fork firearms targets go and rapid fire on last mag (that is why 3 were a tad off). calss was taught by lance vick.

point being, I put an effort into my right to defend myself, just cuz the bill of rights says it does not mean we don't have to put some sort of effort in using/keeping it.

Learning to defend oneself and access to the tools shouldnt be married, but they are a wise combination.

Should apply to drinking and smoking too. The problem is the 18 year old today is a puss. They haven't been taught well!and its only getting worse.

I thought the LTC class was valuable, especially regarding the law and safety. Can't imagine giving anyone, especially a teenager, the right to carry without some type of mandatory education. The life it saves may be his own.

Hop is right on this one.

anyone can do that at the 3' distance. Yes I said feet not yards