The goal is reduction, not perfection. Being defensive and trying to find a flaw in every suggestion/solution is not open minded. I’m solution oriented and try to keep big picture of reducing disease, or death, and know that panaceas aren’t common. Studies show that when alcohol consumption is truly initiated after 21, the rates of continued alcohol use and abuse go way down. That’s international. The earlier the introduction the more ingrained it is in your life habits, the more it becomes a problem at a later age. Now, genetics come into play individually for alcoholism, etc, but across societies, that has been the data. Just an example about how the more mature the brain is with high risk behaviors like EtOH consumption the better the behavior.
I always had issues with that, but in the real world not everything has to make perfect since. Militaries need willing strong men and women. That generally means young. Killing generally is done by a very small percentage of the military. And they generally don't let you drink when on duty and until 21. But no one is going to really be upset if 18 year Olds are caught drinking
An m4 is ok but not a pistol. Typed the same but thought I hit enter. And yes laws on this level need to have some symmetry and make sense. If young men can fight and die at 18 young men can drink and own a pistol. If not then the issues aren't guns anyhow.
Military trains them to use a weapon but do they train them in how to be away from their families, how to survive multiple deployments, how to reacquaint themselves with children they've been away from for years at a time? Simply knowing how to shoot a weapon doesn't mean you are prepared to actually do so. The military needs women in administrative and support roles. They do not and should not be needed on the front line or in any special ops. They should not be on ships or submarines. As for drinking in the military, the Navy actually hired a consulting group and as one of their biggest projects, they taughht the Navy to drink responsibly. Lol.
Not sure if the new military is a softer military that cares about things like that or not. I’d guess they pay it lip service at least.
