Manifesto

Under common law, the legal age of majority was 21 years old. Minors under the age of 21 had no standing to rights enjoyed by parents.  

In 1942, the legal age for being drafted into the military was lowered from 21 years old to 18 years old, resulting from the need for more enlistments during WWII.  

At that time, the legal voting age in the United States was still 21 years old, and many states still considered legal emancipation to be at 21 years old.  

In 1971, following the Vietnam War, a nationwide push was made for the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, lowering voting age to 18 years old while also arguably extending that age group Constitutional Rights, under an “old enough to fight, old enough to vote” mantra.  

Following the passage of the 26th Amendment, from 1971 to 1975, 29 states lowered the Minimum Legal Drinking age to under 21 years old. In the years that followed, a significant increase in motor vehicle fatalities was attributed to the lowered drinking ages.  In the early 80’s, many medical studies documented that an 18 year old’s prefrontal cortex (part of brain that regulates impulse control) begins to become more fully developed at 21 years old.

In 1984, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed requiring all states to raise the Minimum Legal Drinking age to 21 years old by 1988. All states complied and a significant decrease in motor vehicle fatalities was attributed to the increased drinking age in the 90’s.  

In 1999, Columbine – a 17 and 18 year old killed 15 people, with assault weapons that were purchased by them. The perpetrators were isolated, bullied, and played violent video games.  

In 2012, Sandy Hook – a 20 year old killed 27 people, with assault weapons purchased by his mother for him. The perpetrator was isolated, bullied, and played violent video games.  

In 2018, Parkland – a 19 year old killed 17 people, with assault weapons that were purchased by him. The perpetrator was isolated, bullied, and played violent video games.  

In 2018, Santa Fe – a 17 year old killed 10 people, with guns that were purchased for him by his father. The perpetrator was isolated, bullied, and played violent video games.  

In 2022, Uvalde – a 18 year old killed 22 people, with assault weapons that were purchased by him. The perpetrator was isolated, bullied, and played violent video games.  

It is a fact that less than 20% of 18 to 20 year old citizens in the United States vote.  

It is a fact that in all 50 states, you must be at least 21 years of age to possess alcohol.  

It is a fact that there has been no selective service draft for the military since 1973.  

Perhaps it is just time to repeal the 26th Amendment and to raise selective service registration back up to 21 years of age? We could even still allow enlisted military to vote at 18, to address that prior problem of the 70’s.  

That way all the folks that are jumping up and down about their 2nd Amendment rights can still exercise them, but only after they turn 21 years old.  

Maybe if we’d done that sooner, some or all of the 5 tragedies above could have been avoided.