Proposed legislation would allow minors to choose gender surgery (Aiden Craven/Unsplash photo) without parental permission, but would ban possession of semi-automatic firearms for all Vermonters under the age of 22 (YouTube photo).
By Jim Sexton
On December 27, Vermont Daily Chronicle told how Sen. Phil Baruth thought parents should have no final say when it came to their children. Baruth wants parental authority removed so children would be able to make decisions that would remove any possibility of them to reproduce. Medical professionals and the child will decide whether the child would receive life changing drugs and surgeries that would destroy the ability to reproduce in their lifetime.
This policy would make children, regardless of their age, mature enough to decide their future. It would effectively make every child an adult.
Using that child-empowering position as a point of reference…..
Baruth, Sen. Richard Sears and others are now trying to write more illegal gun laws, defining anyone under the age of 22 as a juvenile. According to Baruth, Sears and the others, anyone under the age of 22 is far too immature and irresponsible to purchase, own or possess a semi-automatic gun. Despite the fact that none of them have committed a crime, Baruth believes Vermonters would be safe from these juveniles if their ability to own or possess a Semi Automatic is prohibited.
What Baruth is trying to do is assert every man, woman, boy or girl under the age of 22 is a threat because of their immaturity. Baruth’s thinking is if they are under the age of 22, society must be protected from them. They are incapable of making the choice of whether to be law abiding citizens or mindless killers.
This is the same age group Baruth says is mature enough to make life altering decisions to their bodies that will change them forever.
It gets worse. I was in the meeting where Baruth asked for the word “Assault” removed from the language. He explained that too many people wouldn’t understand that term.
What Baruth actually did is to preempt any discussion as to what type of guns his bill would restrict. Every semi-automatic rifle, pistol or shotgun would be illegal for anyone under the age of 22 to purchase, own or possess. Every .22, every 20 gauge, every 9mm, every .45. Every semi-automatic period. The guns many of us had as youths to squirrel or rabbit hunt, the guns we used to hunt ducks or big Game, the guns we were taught how to use safely and pass on to our children and grandchildren. The guns that many thousands of Vermont youth own and use today.
Baruth’s bill would also make it illegal for everyone under the age of 22 to purchase, own or possess any semi-automatic to defend themselves and their family.
Baruth, Sears and the others involved in writing and pushing these bills believe they are the sole arbiters in deciding who is a criminal threat to you and your family. Every gun-possessing man, woman, boy and girl under 22 is a threat to society. They are determined to save us all.
Not even close.
In fact, what Baruth, Sears and the others are trying to do is remove Constitutional protections provided to every law-abiding American.
What Baruth, Sears and the others aren’t addressing is enforcing laws that would punish criminals committing these crimes. They aren’t addressing state attorneys that release or don’t charge criminals.
The real threat to Vermonters is politicians like Baruth, Sears, Sarah George and the others making it possible for criminals to injure or kill you or your defenseless family. Taking guns out of the hands of law-abiding Vermonters makes us all vulnerable to those who don’t care about laws.
The author is an Essex Junction resident.