PONDERING, 18 YEAR OLDS ?

I'm sitting here, fresh cup of Jo, stogie in my paw and pondering this 21 to vote; 21 to 'buy' an AR style [ i.e., assault ] rifle; 18, 17 with parents consent, to serve in our Nations military; and "18 year olds aren't capable of making good, rational decisions". Man/woman, that's a lot for a guy to be pondering! My first thought is to the broad statement that, "18 year olds aren't capable of making good, rational decisions". Maybe that is true if their only tutelage is a current home life that may be lacking. However, an 18 year old, or maybe the case is a 17 year old, who is in the military has a life of enforced regulations, supervision and discipline. They, men and women, are more than capable of making intelligent, rational decisions. There is a short piece floating on face book showing a kid, clearly disrespectful and absolutely threatening toward a teacher. This idiot is clearly unhinged and is presenting as a possible cause for this teacher to be fearful of bodily harm. I'm not real knowledgeable on the ins and outs of "assault" and "battery". Isn't 'assault' any threatening vocal or physical action? And isn't 'battery' the actual physical contact by the person making the threat. Or in a number of cases, a sucker punch, which would be simple, but painful, battery. I was concerned for the teacher! It is obvious this student was threatening, a real physical threat, a disturbing element for the class and should have been taken into custody for at least observation if not arrested for his actions. Look out, here it comes; men and women in the military may have at one time been like this kid. Entering military service however, through a series of training evolutions, changed that. All of a sudden these young men and women have a new environment. One which provides them with guidelines, boundaries, standards, and of real importance, goals. In a nutshell, they have entered a new family with those things their real family life was lacking (if it was lacking). Truly just another rant on my part, but this is how I make sense out of hollow rhetoric spewed from pundits with no clue to which they speak. I believe that age is only relevant when there is no substance for the man or woman to relate. Food for thought for me and I recommend this to the powers that be. Bring reality into this mix