How old is too old?

[Dennis]

I was in Turners today replacing some ammo I shot over the weekend. There was an old gentleman in there trying to get ammo. Well into his 70's if not 80's. Anyways, they were telling him about the new system and asking if he'd bought a gun recently. He said no, and that it was for his brother who didn't drive anymore. His brother no longer had a license. They were explaining the system to him telling him he had to go to cfars online. I bet this old guy didn't even have a computer. He just left in frustration.


I've been kicking myself since then for not approaching him and offering to help. In these strange times we're in, I imagine just having a box of ammo for some old relic they have sitting around would provide them with some peace of mind, some comfort. But what if this was for a Dr Kevorkian kind of situation.


So it got me thinking, how old is too old? I tried to imagine myself at that age, in that situation. Even when my old hands can barely hold my gun up, I'd still want it close by. But what about dementia and Alzheimer's? At what point does someone say no more for you? What is that process like? Especially if there is no family close by.



Have you planned for this part of your life?

[CWL]

Tough question with no simple answer.

I do think that firearms competency depends most on mental ability and not age or physical limitations.

[Sousuke]

Tough question with no simple answer.

I do think that firearms competency depends most on mental ability and not age or physical limitations.

I was going to make a light joke about blind people seeing your post, but then I started digging and realized there is a huge debate about the 2nd ammendment and people who are blind. I'm not sure where I stand on the issue especially when its been drilled into me that one of the key rules of safety is knowing your target and its background.

[Endless]

Tough question with no simple answer.

I do think that firearms competency depends most on mental ability and not age or physical limitations.

I agree with you.

My uncle is 71 and probably can outshoot a majority of folks on this gun forum under the age of 30. He is an Army veteran but boy can he still shoot.

[12lbRooster]

I was going to make a light joke about blind people seeing your post, but then I started digging and realized there is a huge debate about the 2nd ammendment and people who are blind. I'm not sure where I stand on the issue especially when its been drilled into me that one of the key rules of safety is knowing your target and its background.

Blind people and those with vision impairments use the internet too.

There's a big push on the development side for accessibility and there have been a fair number of ADA lawsuits against larger sites not meeting the standards.

But on the firearms front, that's a very difficult scenario. I'd be quite hesitant to tell someone even completely blind that they aren't to have the tools to defend themselves, it's an inalienable right and I don't believe a disability should strip that away.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Age is largely a number, sometimes providing general guidance; but, rarely being definitive in terms of delimiting an individual's ability, mentally or physically.



At what point? I'd say it has nothing to do with age and, instead, should be based on specific circumstance. But, it's a debate that's never been satisfactorily answered as people are individuals and don't always match "the charts" or the text book or stereotypes. Thus, each case is unique, meaning there is no, one-size-fits-all answer to the question.

But, that hints at the real problem.

What circumstances gives anyone the 'authority' to deny someone else a God-given right?

[Ex Pat]

Have you planned for this part of your life?

I turned 82 in October - at last count my Wife (55) and I have 30 something firearms (she bought a Browning 1911 .380 a month ago) and we shoot as often as we can (indoor range about 50 miles away) but have slowed down due to this ammo shortage (caused by this b.s. "fear" that has gripped the U.S.)

we also "work" 20 acres of property and tend to 4 adopted rescue Horses and 4 Dogs, 3 of which are adopted - animal tending, mowing, fence building - 7 days a week

I feel that I'm lucky in that "old age", for me, is just a state of mind - and lucky that I'm physically able to do the things that I need and want to do

so "planned for this part of your life" ? planning hasn't really much to do with it - health and mentality will decide how you handle getting up in years

[Mickey D]

[smle-man]

My dad shot until his late 80s, after that he said his strength was weakened to the point that he couldn't hold a firearm up for very long. He distained bench resting a firearm.

I hope I'll be shooting as long as him but already at 66 I'm having trouble freehand shooting long guns for any length of time without excessive shaking setting in. so far handguns aren't a problem.

[OCEquestrian]

Tough question with no simple answer.

I do think that firearms competency depends most on mental ability and not age or physical limitations.

^^^^ This!

[The War Wagon]

I wouldn't live in a state where I couldn't.

[Epaphroditus]

Too old is one day after one dies.

[HKAllTheThings]

Watching your family members deteriorate in old age is one of the saddest things about life.

[tsmithson]

30 years ago I did a job for a couple in San Pedro. He was 106 and she was 105. He came out to the garage With his cane a couple times to check on me. When I was cleaning up he started to help. He picked up the extra heavy duty box the metal parts came in and ripped it into several pieces as I stood there trying to let him know I could clean up. Most men on this site would not have been able to rip that box the way he did, including me at my age now.

He was a professional fisherman.

[keith1911]

With all of this craziness going on I helped an elderly neighbor get ammo for his pistol. He was very happy with my help.

My brother is legally blind from an accident and has a license to carry in CO where he lives.