So, I looked up the exact age you have to be to buy a gun in the US, because, considering that I am one of the idiots that lives there, it seemed like a thing to know. What I found out: You have to be 21 to buy a handgun, 18 to buy a long gun, and, in my home state, I, a fifteen year old, could legally handle, fire, and own a firearm that was not a handgun so long as I
was supervised by my parent
was on property belonging to my family
As someone who has both been to a Renaissance fair and knows someone who regularly works at them, THIS BOTHERS ME! Why? Because, as anyone who has been to a fair will tell you, UNDER FEDERAL LAW you must be at least eighteen to even TOUCH one of the (real, sharp) swords. So basically, I can go, jump through a few hoops and follow a few rules, and buy a small, easily concealed weapon that propells sharp bits of metal at high speeds, but GODS FORBID I even THINK about touching a broadsword that isn't made of wood or plastic, or blunted so it isn't sharp or dangerous.