My husband and I are Christians and Pro-Life.  You would think that they go hand in hand wouldn’t you?  Well, if that isn’t the case, some serious soul searching needs to be done.  Jeremiah 1:5  (King James version) states, “Before I formed thee in the womb, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
I was listening to the Lars Larson show on Nov. 4th and he was talking about the Illinois law requiring parental notification when minors (17 and younger) seek abortion procedures.  The law passed in 1995, has gone un-enforced because of a federal injunction, and now has been given an extension of a 90 day grace period that was initially issued in August.
Lars brought up the issue of minors needing permission from a parent for a tattoo, yet some people would like these young people to have a serious surgical procedure without permission from a parent or guardian.  How many surgical procedures can a minor have without parental permission?  Any of them?
Let’s look at some age requirements for teenagers.  
The Youth Handgun Safety Act does have exceptions, but basically it is unlawful for a person to transfer a handgun to anyone under 18 or for anyone under 18 to knowingly possess a handgun.  Under federal law minors under 18 are prohibited from possessing guns and minors under 21 are prohibited from purchasing guns from dealers.  Unless regulated by state law, minors 18 and over are free to purchase through private sales.  21 states currently prohibit or regulate this option.  Over 29 states regulate these sales through registration or licensing.
The legal age limit for purchasing tobacco products vary by states, anywhere from 15 to 21 with 18 being the most common. Here in California the age is 18.
Minimum age requirements in California for marriage is 18 without parental consent. WITH parental consent there is NO minimum age! (Please don’t think this makes it okay to marry off your 9 yr. old)
To exercise our privilege of driving a vehicle you need to be at least 16 years of age. Within the last few years they have added a few new restrictions about who can ride in the car within the first year of having your license (if you’re under 18).
In most states the age limit for drinking alcohol is 21. The legal age to sell alcohol is 18, and the age to serve is 21 with some exceptions.
If you are under 18 you can’t legally sign a contract, therefore it is unlikely that you can find a dwelling to rent or buy.
Surgery, including plastic surgery procedures on teens require parental consent if the teen is under 18. (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) All states allow the consent to be waived in the event of a medical emergency.
Most states allow treatment for sexual abuse or assault without parental permission. No states require parental consent for outpatient counseling for abuses of drugs or alcohol. Every state allows minors over the age of 12 to be tested for STD’s, without parental permission.
In 2002 a few states enacted the “mature minor” doctrine, which lets minors give consent to their own medical procedures if they can show they are mature enough to make that decision.
Just a few things to think about.
Mrs. Redneck