This week, I wanted to write about something that I have just recently come to notice in the Constitution and laws of the United States that I also personally have had to deal with.

On New Year's Eve, I stopped by Walmart to purchase some sparkling cider for my baby cousin and I (we can both drink just about a whole bottle each). While I was in the store, I noticed the New Year's Eve section and stopped to pick up some New Year's crowns to wear, and a box of the Phantom FireWork Confetti Party Poppers (as seen below). I hurried along to the self-checkout and started by scanning the box of Party Poppers and was presented with the "Assistance Needed" screen. When the Walmart associate came to help, her first question was "Are you 21?"

I'll admit, my first thought was "Do you need to be 21 to use the self-checkout?" and then I thought I must've accidentally grabbed a real bottle of champagne instead of the sparkling cider and she was double checking my age for the purchase. When I looked at her with clear confusion, and said "No...", she informed me that you had to be 21 to buy the Party Poppers because they are considered fireworks. And furthermore, because the package of New Year's crowns I attempted to buy had two Party Poppers included, I could not purchase those either.

Anyone who isn't familiar with these tiny "fireworks," you pull the string and confetti pops out of the small plastic bottle shaped containers. I've been using them for as long as I can remember at various festive holiday celebrations in my family. I was surprised they were even labeled as fireworks, because it's not like you have to light them and set them off to have them explode into the air.

I'm not saying the Party Poppers can't be dangerous, and I 100% agree that parental supervision up until a certain age would definitely be needed. However, how is it that at the age of 19, I can get my license, vote in state and national level elections, and enlist myself in the armed services, but I can not be trusted to purchase a Party Popper.

I think it would be worth thinking about the fact that at 18 years old in the state of New Hampshire, I can dedicate my life to America, and go through bootcamp and training, to then be putting my life on the line for the safety of the country, but I can't purchase a firework. To me, an age limit on something like fireworks makes me think that it is because at the age of 18, the state of New Hampshire doesn't trust us to use these festive pyrotechnics. To me, it is them saying I am not mature enough to use the fireworks safely and correctly. However, I am considered mature enough to give my life for the state and the country?

In the state of New Hampshire, you can start driving with a parent/legal guardian, or someone who has a license who is over the age of 25, at the age of 15 and a half. This is arguably one of the greatest responsibilties we as humans take on, considering in 2015 there were 35,092 deaths from fatal car crashes (statistic from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). At 15 and a half, you can be trusted to get behind the wheel of a car and put not only your own life, but the lives of drivers around you on the line, and be considered mature enough to abide by the rules of the road. At the age of 18, in New Hampshire and around the country, you are trusted with the responsibility to vote in not only statewide elections, but in the national elections. Just two months ago, as a 19 year old, I got to voice my opinion on who would get to be the leader of the free world, and vote for the president. I was trusted to vote in the best interest of this nation's future.

My experience of New Year's Eve had me rethinking the laws that I follow in my own state and in my country. I personally find it absurd that I can get behind the wheel of a car or help decide the future of this nation, but I can't be trusted to purchase and set off a firework (in my own home state, the law does vary by state) or even purchase alcohol (this however is a nationwide law). To me, the level of maturity expected for someone to drive a car, enlist in the armed services, and to vote is the same level of maturity expected for someone who can drink alcohol or purchase fireworks. So are America and New Hampshire telling me that I'm only so mature, but not mature enough? The tangle of laws and age limits only leaves room for this question. And maybe, the age limit for all of these things needs to be 21, and not 18, or maybe 18, and not 21. All I'm saying is, I think that my state and nation need to rethink what level of responsibility is given to their youth.