(The Center Square) – Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and 18 Senate colleagues introduced new legislation that would raise the minimum age limit to purchase ‘assault-style’ weapons from 18 to 21, reigniting the debate over gun laws and public safety.
The Age 21 Act is part of a broader effort to reduce gun violence by limiting access to ‘assault-style’ weapons for young buyers, bringing federal law in line with already existing restrictions on handgun purchases, which already require buyers to be at least 21 years old.
“Everyone in America should be able to live free from the fear of injury or death caused by a firearm,” said Kaine in a statement. “One of many commonsense steps we can take to reduce that risk is limiting young people’s access to assault weapons—just like we already limit their access to handguns. I’m proud to help introduce this bill to raise the legal purchasing age for assault weapons to 21, and will keep pushing for additional legislation to make our communities safer from gun violence.”
Supporters argue individuals under 21 are more likely to commit acts of gun violence, citing high-profile mass shootings and gun-related homicides. High-profile incidents in Buffalo, Uvalde and Parkland were carried out by 18-year-old shooters using legally purchased assault rifles.
“Six of the deadliest mass shootings since 2018 were committed by individuals 21 and under. The Age 21 Act could have saved lives then, and will continue to do so if passed into law,” said Alexa Browning, Policy Manager at March For Our Lives. “Firearms are still the leading cause of death for young people, yet we continue to allow access to deadly weapons while restricting substances like alcohol and tobacco. We are deeply grateful to Senator Padilla for taking decisive action in this fight to prevent further tragedies and protect our future.”
Research from Everytown for Gun Safety indicates that mass shootings involving ‘assault’ weapons result in significantly higher casualties when compared to those committed with other firearms.
Florida, California and Washington have already enacted laws raising the age limit to purchase ‘assault’ weapons to 21, though some of these restrictions have faced legal challenges. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld California’s lawsuit in 2022, but similar measures in other states remain unresolved.
Virginia lawmakers previously attempted to pass a comparable bill, House Bill 2, which proposed prohibiting anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing, possessing, or transferring ‘assault’ firearms, making violations a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, Gov. Youngkin vetoed the bill, citing concerns over penalizing lawful gun owners instead of violent criminals.
“Virginia has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth has reduced penalties for criminals, contributing to violent crime. Enhancing penalties for crimes committed with firearms will reverse this trend. Our most significant gap, however, has been in our behavioral health system, which is why substantial investments in behavioral health are necessary.”
The Firearms Policy Coalition, which is challenging similar age restrictions in court, argues that prohibiting legal adults under the age of 21 from purchasing firearms violates and sets a dangerous precedent for any future gun control measures.
