May I ask a question, please?

The Kansas City Star reports today that a young man was killed in an unfortunate shooting on the East side of town--of course--unnecessarily and pointlessly.

Here's the story:

It seems this young man, one Ian Jones, was following his girlfriend home from the 18th and Vine district when he accidentally but dangerously pulled out in front of another car.

That car was driven by who knows whom but they pulled out a gun, took a shot at young Ian's car, hit him and drove on.

Ian took the hit, drove on another block or two, wrecked and later died.

So pointless.

But get this, straight from The Kansas City Star: "Jones had just left a nightclub in the 18th and Vine District. He and his girlfriend met there but couldn't get inside because the club had a minimum age requirement of 25."

What?

Are you kidding me?

This young guy is 22 years old--old enough to be called off to fight for our country in a war--but he isn't old enough to go into a bar at the 18th and Vine District, here in Kansas City?

Does that makes sense?

How about fair? Does it seem fair?

Let me propose something here. Let me take this possibility of fairness to a logical extension.

I would propose that, if young Mr. Ian Jones had been allowed into this bar, at his adult age of 22 years, he would still be alive today.

Don't get me wrong--I'm not saying the bar or its rules are responsible for Mr. Jones' death, absolutely not. The knucklehead who pulled out his gun and shot him is solely responsible for that.

But a regular, "prove you're 21 years old and you're in" rule would have changed this outcome.

Sure, it's conjecture. One can always play "what if?".

But the fact is, Ian Jones was a young adult, wasn't allowed into this bar and so, coincidentally but tragically got shot and killed because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

If Ian were in your family, you'd find it horribly, again, tragically, wrong. And unfair.

One last question, too: Are there other bars in town that only allow people in who are 25 years and older?

I'm not aware of any.

Link to story: http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1450861.html