Letter: The issue of age with mass shootings

It was with dismay when I read HB5855 proposed assault weapons ban. It is page after page listing pistols, rifles, shotguns and even a machine gun to be banned or restricted. Only one rifle listed has anything to do with the shooting at Highland Park. I thought any law passed would be to deter mass shootings, not promote anti-gun agendas.

The AR-15 semi-automatic rifle shooting a small 5.56m (0.22 inches in diameter} bullet has become the go-to rifle for mass shooters. It has little recoil allowing it to be shot rapidly with accuracy.

However, the problem lies with the age of the shooters. From Sandy Hook to Highland Park nearly all were teenagers or in their early 20s. Why? Type in your smartphone or computer "human brain maturity." You will find an abundance of information with the consensus by experts that the brain is not fully mature until the age of 25.

The prefrontal cortex, the brain's rational part and acts with good judgement, is not fully developed. They think with the emotional part and don't understand the consequences.

Two large businesses confirm this fact. The automobile insurance and car rental companies have known from experience that young people are irresponsible, lack common sense and don't think of consequences. They charge high rates and limit car rental by age and type of car.

It makes sense to restrict those 24 years old and younger from owning or using a semi-automatic rifle without supervision. If a semi-automatic rifle is banned and removed from its owner, it has to be replaced with a non-semi-automatic rifle of the same or acceptable caliber such as a bolt, lever, pump or slide-action rifle at the expense of the governing body enacting the ban.

Richard Ogden

Grayslake