Alabama is looking at changing the age of majority from 19 to 18 according to Senate Bill 125.
The bill would amend Sections 13A-12-3 and 26-1-1, Code of Alabama 1975 while considering certain exceptions. It is a Bill to be entitled to an Act.
Age of majority is the age at which the law defines adulthood and is a state-mandated and regulated law.
“I don’t think that every 18-year-old is mature enough to take responsibility for all of their actions, but there are lots of 21-year-olds who aren’t mature enough either” said Will Payne, a counselor at Auburn High School.
Section 13A-12-3 deals with the punishment of those who sell cigarettes or tobacco products to minors under 19, according to Alabama Legislative System Online.
“Any person who sells, barters, exchanges or gives to any minor, as defined in Section 28-11-2, any cigarettes, cigarette tobacco or cigarette paper, or any substitute for either of them shall, on conviction, be fined not less than $10.00 nor more than $50.00 and may also be imprisoned in the county jail or sentenced to hard labor for the county for not more than 30 days.”
Some students had something to say about lowering the age for buying tobacco products.
“People under 19 are already getting the tobacco products, but now maybe the law will be more strictly enforced on minors” said Amy Floyd, a senior in communications.
Under Section26-1-1 of the bill, an 18-year-old would have the same civic responsibility and punishment as a 21-year-old citizen according to the Alabama Legislative System Online.
“(a) Any person in this state, at the arrival at the age of 19 18 years, shall be relieved of his or her disabilities of minority and thereafter shall have the same legal rights and abilities as persons over 21 years of age. No law of this state shall discriminate for or against any person between and including the ages of 19 18 and 21 years solely on the basis of age.”
“Though 18-years-olds are not as mature as 21-year-olds, if they are going to do illegal actions, they should face the consequences.” Floyd said.
Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little of district four has proposed this bill and is active in its legislation. Calls to Sen. Little had not been returned at press time.
While, the age of consent is 18 in most states, exceptions exist in Delaware, Nebraska and Wyoming; Mississippi’s is 21. Some states have laws that allow age of consent to be 18 or until high school graduation.
“Alabama should be uniform with other states” Payne said. He said lowering the age of majority is “not a big deal.”
