By Errion Edgerson

Could increasing the legal age for concealed carry in Ohio end up saving the lives of young people in Cleveland?

I am an eleventh-grade student who lives in Cleveland, which, according to a recent Fox News 8 report, is ranked seventh in the nation for the highest cost of crime per capita. I have observed alarming incidents where students have been pursued with firearms, putting lives at risk due to conflicts stemming from high-school rivalries. Making concealed carry legal only for people in their mid-to-late 20s would greatly enhance the safety of my peers and I, providing us with a sense of security that we currently lack when going to and leaving school.

While the Second Amendment states, "The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed," history demonstrates that amendments can be modified by subsequent legislation to address emerging societal concerns. For instance, the 18th Amendment was repealed by the 21st Amendment due to a rise in illegal activities associated with prohibition. 

I believe the current concealed carry age of 21 has resulted in negative consequences, such as minors possessing firearms, accidental discharges, mass shootings, and suicides. Too many young people in Cleveland have access to firearms in general, and the concealed carry law means they can carry them around without facing consequences. While the minimum age to own a firearm - currently 18 in Ohio - should also be increased, I believe we should approach regulations in incremental steps.

Research by PublicMed Central indicates that each year approximately 32,000 people are killed with guns in the U.S.—about 19,000 of them by their own hand—and another 74,000 are injured in nonfatal gunshot incidents.

One reason why I think the minimum age should be increased relates to brain development. Research from the National Institute of Mental Health suggests the human brain continues to develop and mature into the mid-to-late 20s. Notably, the prefrontal cortex, located at the front of the brain, is still undergoing significant development and is crucial for functions such as planning, prioritizing, and decision-making. Effective decision-making is essential when handling items that can cause serious harm. According to a National Institute on Mental Health study, understanding the developmental stages during which specific brain regions are influenced by genetic factors may provide valuable insights for research aimed at linking particular genes to behaviors in the context of mental health problems.

In 2021, 20.3 percent of deaths among individuals aged 16 to 20 were classified as homicides, with firearms involved in almost 95% percent of these cases. These troubling statistics are similar for young adults aged 21 to 30. This data underscores the significant impact of firearms on public safety. Additionally, the increase in homicide percentages with advancing age suggests a concerning trend. In 2020, out of 12,319 firearm homicides for which the ages of offenders were known, 44 percent were perpetrated by individuals aged 12 to 24 according to RAND, a nonpartisan research organization.

Some might argue that increasing the minimum age for possession of firearms won't do anything to curb the loss of life seen in this country. There are few studies showing the impact of minimum-age possession laws. One study done by RAND states that among seven studies analyzing the effects of minimum age possession laws, the overall findings were inconclusive; however, an additional study revealed a substantial decrease in firearm suicides among individuals under 25.

In conclusion, raising the legal age for concealed carry permits to the mid-to-late twenties could significantly reduce gun-related fatalities and enhance public safety, as research indicates that younger individuals are more prone to impulsive decision-making and are disproportionately involved in firearm-related homicides and suicides. This change may address critical societal concerns regarding mental health and the developmental maturity necessary for responsible firearm ownership.